Kasich says he will keep spending on Ohio-Ky. bridge project

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ohio’s governor says the state will keep moving ahead on a major Ohio River bridge project that’s in funding trouble on the Kentucky side.

Gov. John Kasich told The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story published today that he still has confidence there will be funding from Kentucky, which has control of the bridge.

Kentucky legislators are opposing tolls to help pay for a project estimated at $2.6 billion. Ohio has committed $84 million to bridge-related highway work, including overhauling Interstate 75 just north of the river.

“I don’t want to slow down anything,” Kasich said. “Let’s get done what we need to get done. What I don’t want to do is say, ‘OK, we’re just going to kind of stop things now to see what happens over there.’ That, to me, would not be good public policy.”

Kasich said he believes Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and others will figure out a way to come up with the funding.