$2.3 Billion Ohio River Bridges Project Complete in Louisville

Whether you call it the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project, the Downtown Crossing, or the new Spaghetti Junction—call it done.

1 minute read

December 27, 2016, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Louisville Bridge

Thomas Kelley / Shutterstock

"With the opening of the East End bridge on Sunday and the official start of tolling set for Friday, Dec. 30, construction of the $2.3 billion Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project has pretty much concluded," according to an article by Michael Finley.

"To recap, the bridges project had two major components in the downtown crossing, which included reconfiguring Spaghetti Junction, and the East End crossing, which includes the East End bridge and new roads and tunnels to connect to the bridge," explains Finley. Finley's article provides a retrospective of the project's long construction process.

The Downtown Crossing portion of the project wrapped up construction in November, as reported by Sheldon S. Shafer in a separate article for the Courier-Journal. Earlier this month, the Courier-Journal also commemorated the project by posting aerial images of the completed Spaghetti Junction. Walsh Construction, lead contractor on the project, working with the states of Indiana and Kentucky, also posted a celebratory blog post announcing the end of construction back in November. That project lists the goals and priorities for the project, from the obvious pro-construction perspective of the development team.

For a much more critical take on the pro-highway politics that approved and funded the project, revisit a post by New York Times architecture Michael Kimmelman, who visited the city in 2012.

Friday, December 16, 2016 in Louisville Business First

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today