The Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority has scheduled two days in February for an "industry innovation forum" on the Ohio River Bridges Project.The governors of Kentucky and Indiana requested the event, which will bring together interested parties from the design, construction, finance and other industries.Officials say it's aimed at finding the most modern and cost-effective means of completing the project, which includes two new Ohio River bridges and a reconfigured Spaghetti Junction.This week, the two governors and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also suggested ways to trim $500 million from the project's cost, estimated at $4.1 billion. Gary Valentine with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the modifictions could also reduce construction time, but not the project's scope."Two bridges, one project and rebuilding Spaghetti Junction. We're looking at design adjustments, it does not redefine the project," he told the authority at its meeting Thursday at Indiana University Southeast.The forum will be held February 16 and 17 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.