Daviess County's Judge-Executive says he's pleased with federal lawmakers' responses so far to the idea of creating a new interstate highway across western Kentucky and southern Indiana. Al Mattingly and other political and business leaders from the region this week went to Washington DC to lobby lawmakers for funding for the proposed I-67, a four-lane interstate running from Washington, Indiana through Owensboro and continuing to Bowling Green, where it would connect with I-65.
"We're calling it the cheapest interstate that would ever be built in the United States," Mattingly told WKU Public Radio. "In effect, we have the Natcher, which is four lanes and almost interstate standard. And we have the bypass extension being built now and that is also nearly up to interstate standards."
Current plans call for the new I-67 to use the four-lane US 231, the William Natcher Bridge over the Ohio River at Maceo, and the William Natcher Parkway through Daviess, Ohio, Butler, and Warren counties, where it would link up with I-65.
Supporters say the new interstate would cost at least 500-million-dollars. A study looking at the proposed route of the highway is scheduled for release at the end of November.
