Bridge project clears another hurdle

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Efforts to build two new bridges linking the Louisville area and southern Indiana have cleared a key hurdle with federal approval of a new environmental impact statement.

Officials on both sides of the Ohio River said Friday that the latest progress shows the long-planned project is on track toward construction.

They say the final federal sign-off on the $2.6 billion project could come in mid-June.

Indiana will oversee construction of the eastern bridge connecting the Lee Hamilton Expressway in Indiana and the Gene Snyder Freeway in Kentucky.

Kentucky is contracting for a downtown Louisville bridge and approaches on both sides of the river.

The new environmental impact statement was required after the governors of both states agreed to modifications that cut the project's cost by $1.5 billion.