The --> --> -->, the --> --> -->, and the Brent Spence Bridge advisory committee have released an updated project schedule that will keep construction from starting until 2011 at the earliest - assuming that funding for the $3 billion project can be found by that time.

The original project schedule, which was released in 2005, has been modified to allow for some aspects of engineering and design work to proceed concurrently, rather than in their previous step-by-step fashion.

Delays were also caused by the performance of a travel lane study in which traffic volumes were estimated for the expansion to five, six and seven continuous lanes, which showed no appreciable increase in volume for each lane added.

A study of certified traffic data has been bumped up in the process and is now due on June 16. This study will take into account estimates of daily traffic, hour volumes and truck traffic to determine the number of lanes necessary for the project.

Other changes include:

* Conceptual alternatives study: Due October 24, 2008, was originally planned for November 2006. This will combine design and environmental data to produce a list of feasible alternatives.

* Assessment of feasible alternatives: Due August 9, 2009, was originally planned for August 2007. This provides a more detailed document of the feasible alternatives for presentation to stkeholders, agencies and the public.

* Preferred alternative verification report: Due August 16, 2010, was originally planned for September 2008. This document further refines data given for the preferred alternative.

* Draft environmental document: Due September 2, 2010, was originally planned for February 2009. This is a document detailing the preferred alternative's impacts and mitigation procedures and coordinating activities with other agencies.

* Final environmental document: Due April 21, 2011, was originally planned for August 2009. This is a revision of the draft environmental document that also includes comments from regulatory agencies and input received from the public during a 45-day comment period.