New Bridges Offer New Route Options for Midwest Truckers

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., Dec. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Ohio River bridge connecting Louisville and Southern Indiana opens to traffic this weekend, providing a new routing option for truckers in the Midwest. The East End bridge connects Utica, Ind. and Prospect, Ky. (SR 265 and I-265), and is scheduled to open to traffic Sunday evening December 18.

The East End bridge is the final major piece of the $2.3 billionLouisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project to open to traffic. The project also includes the new 6-lane, I-65 North Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the improved 6-lane, I-65 South Kennedy Bridge in Downtown Louisville. The combination of the two bridges has nearly doubled cross-river capacity downtown. Both bridges fully opened to traffic in Nov. 2016.

All three bridges will be tolled. Tolling is scheduled to begin at 4 a.m. on Friday, December 30. RiverLink is all-electronic tolling, with no stopping, no slowing, no lines and no coin machines.

With all three bridges fully open to traffic, truck drivers will receive a "free trial" of the new and improved system prior to the start of tolls.

Beginning December 30, when toll collection commences, all vehicles using the bridges must have a transponder to pay the lowest rates.  Customers with E-ZPass, PrePass and BESTPASS toll accounts that include E-ZPass may use their existing transponders. Additional action is not required.

New customers can open RiverLink accounts and get transponders by calling 1-855-RIV-LINK (748-5465). Two transponder options are available. RiverLink local transponders are free, non-transferable stickers that work only on the Lincoln, Kennedy and East End bridges. RiverLink E-ZPass transponders work in all 16 E-ZPass states and are available for $15 each.

Specially trained customer service representatives are available by phone 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Demand is high. Commercial operators are encouraged to call early in the day to avoid delays. 

The Sherman Minton Bridge (I-64) and the Clark Memorial Bridge (US 31/Second Street Bridge between downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, IN) will not be tolled in connection with the project.

More than 30,000 trucks a day will use the toll bridges as a business route to save time, money and fuel.  Tolls for Large Vehicles (5-axle or more) are between $10 and $12 per trip, and tolls for Medium Vehicles (with 3 or 4-axles or more than 7 ½ feet in height) are between $5 and $7 depending on account type.

Find more information and to open an account today, call 1-855-RIV-LINK (748-5465). Additional information is also available at www.RiverLink.com.

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The Louisville Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project includes two new bridges and their approaches, an improved Kennedy Bridge, and the reconstruction of the Interchange where I-65, I-64 and I-71 come together in downtown Louisville. The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge carries six lanes of I-65 northbound traffic. The improved Kennedy Bridge carries six lanes of southbound traffic. The new East End bridge connects the Gene Snyder Freeway in Prospect, Kentucky (I-265) with IN State Road 265 (Lee Hamilton Highway) in Utica, Indiana. Find more details on the Ohio River Bridges Project at www.kyinbridges.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-bridges-offer-new-route-options-for-midwest-truckers-300380082.html

SOURCE RiverLink