Initial toll rates have been approved for the future I-69 Ohio River Crossing bridge that will connect Henderson and Evansville, a project that could eventually affect travel for residents across Western Kentucky, including those in the Owensboro area.
The newly formed ORX Tolling Body — made up of transportation and finance leaders from Kentucky and Indiana — approved the rates and related policies during a meeting Tuesday as planning continues for the new bridge.
Tolling will apply only to the future I-69 bridge. The crossing is expected to open to traffic in 2031, with toll collection anticipated to begin by Jan. 1, 2032.
Initial toll rates are projected to range from $3.14 for passenger vehicles using a prepaid account and transponder to $18.62 for large vehicles without an account or transponder. Officials said the rates mirror those expected for tolled bridges in Louisville by 2032.
Toll rates will vary based on vehicle classification — including vehicle height and the number of axles — and whether drivers have a prepaid account and transponder. A transponder is a small device mounted in a vehicle that allows tolls to be collected electronically without stopping.
“Drivers with prepaid accounts and transponders will pay the lowest toll rates and cross the tolled bridge in the most efficient manner,” said Amanda Spencer, assistant state highway engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Spencer said toll rates are higher for drivers without accounts because of the additional administrative costs involved with identifying vehicles through license plate recognition and billing vehicle owners. Drivers without prepaid accounts will receive monthly bills by mail.
Officials said toll rates will increase by 2.5% each year unless the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is higher.
Additional fees will be added for unpaid toll bills. The first mailed bill will not include a fee. If the bill remains unpaid, a second bill will include a $5 administrative fee. A third bill will include a $25 violation fee, and a fourth bill will include an additional $30 collection fee.
The tolling body also approved a resolution allowing procurement of a future Toll Service Advisor, which will help oversee toll operations. Another resolution formally adopted the bylaws governing the new board.
The ORX Tolling Body includes the chairman of the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet secretary, the Indiana Department of Transportation commissioner, and designated representatives from both states. The group is responsible for establishing toll policies, including rates and operational rules.
The I-69 Ohio River Crossing project is intended to improve long-term cross-river mobility, reduce congestion, and improve safety between Kentucky and Indiana.
The project is divided into three sections. Section 1, the Kentucky approach, was substantially completed in late 2025. Section 2 includes the new river bridge and will be jointly owned by Kentucky and Indiana. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin in spring 2027 and be completed in 2031. Section 3 includes approach roadways and bridges in Indiana and began construction in Fall 2024, with completion expected in late 2026.
The $933 million project will be financed through a combination of toll revenue, federal funding, and state funding from both Kentucky and Indiana. The Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority is pursuing a loan through the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program to help finance the project.
