Winning Firm Picked for Massive Ohio River Bridges Project

Kentucky transportation officials say a team headed by Chicago firm Walsh Construction Co. is the apparent winner of bidding to build a new bridge over the Ohio River between downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, Ind. The Transportation Cabinet said the proposals were scored Thursday in Frankfort.

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An artist's rendering of what the Ohio River bridges project would look like upon completion.

The Walsh bid included a projected completion date of December 2016 at a construction cost of $860 million, more than 1 1/2 years ahead of deadline and $90 million less than the cabinet's preliminary cost estimate.

Walsh plans to start construction early next year. The project includes a new Interstate 65 bridge, a revamped Kennedy bridge and reconstructed interchanges in downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville.

Indiana is overseeing construction of an eastern Jefferson County bridge and planned to announce a selected team on Friday.