Federal grant given to reconnect Portland area to Ohio River

  • 2025-02-03
A recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation has revealed that Louisville will be given over $14.5 million for the purpose of reconnecting its Portland neighborhood to the riverfront.

This grant is part of $544 million in grants to be distributed among 81 projects nationwide as part of its Reconnecting Communities Pilot program. The only other project in the Bluegrass State to receive money from this program will be Frankfort.

Parks require an assortment of signage, all of which can be provided by a local printing services supplier.

Plans for the Louisville funding as put forth by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are to address flood walls, railroads, missing sidewalks, traffic issues and bike lanes that are presently adding to a lack of accessibility of the Portland neighborhood to the Ohio River.

The federal grant of $14.8 million will fund almost half of the about $30 million project development that will make improvements along the interchange of I-64 at 22nd Street. Included will be a complete street design from between Northwestern Parkway and Bank Street at 22nd Street along with the reconstruction of two pedestrian bridges overlooking I-64.

Reconnecting Portland to the river will be part of the Waterfront Park ongoing expansion, which is presently underway and is expected to cost $50 million.

This spring the 3.5-acre part of the expansion for the Waterfront Park PlayPort along the Ohio River between 10th and 14th streets is anticipated to open.