EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Ohio River Crossing (ORX) project, a long-awaited infrastructure development aimed at improving regional connectivity, is progressing despite recent weather challenges that have temporarily halted construction on the Indiana side of the river.
Work on the Kentucky side of the project, in Henderson, began in 2022 and is nearly complete. However, on the Indiana side, crews only broke ground last September, where they are currently focused on building three “all-weather” approaches that will eventually connect to the future I-69 bridge crossing the Ohio River.
Mindy Peterson, spokesperson for the ORX project, explained that the ongoing work in Evansville, Indiana, is centered on laying the groundwork for the future bridge structure, with a primary focus on ensuring access to the construction site. “The work being done now on Section 3 in Evansville is all about construction access and building the future I-69 bridge,” Peterson said.
Unfortunately, recent flooding has caused temporary delays in the project. “We are underwater right now, work is not happening here on site, but that doesn’t mean work is not happening,” Peterson added. Despite the pause in construction, officials emphasized that the project remains on track thanks to a pre-planned strategy designed to mitigate weather-related disruptions.
The “high water plan” involves preparing for such weather events in advance, including mobilizing equipment and ensuring that large cranes and other heavy machinery are placed on elevated pads to prevent potential damage. “While you see the water, we are not anticipating any damage,” Peterson noted.
Construction crews have not been able to access the site since February 14, but Peterson remained optimistic, saying that work would resume once the water levels recede. “We’re hopeful we’ll be back on-site by Thursday,” she said, adding that the team is committed to sticking to the project’s schedule.
Peterson also explained that built-in contingency days within the project timeline are helping to ensure that any lost time due to weather won’t set the project back. “We have a number of days built into the schedule to ensure that when we’re not able to access the site for a number of days, it’s not throwing us off schedule,” she said. “We’re doing the work we can offsite, and we’ll hit it hard once we’re back on the ground.”
The ORX project is expected to bring substantial benefits to the region. Peterson highlighted the project’s significance in terms of transportation and economic growth, saying, “It’s about the transit of people, it’s about the movement of goods, it’s about opportunity. When you have interstate connectivity, it’s so much easier for corporations to consider new places to build or relocate factories.”
With the approach bridges on the Indiana side slated for completion by the end of 2026, work on the actual bridge across the Ohio River is expected to begin soon after. The entire project, including the bridge, is scheduled to be completed by 2031.
Despite the delays caused by high water levels, the ORX project is moving forward, and officials are confident that the bridge’s completion will enhance regional infrastructure and support economic growth for years to come.
