The proposed route for the remainder of I-69 in Kentucky travels about 10 miles (16 km) before exiting on a bridge across the Ohio River to Indiana; construction on the first segment began in 2022, with completion scheduled in 2031.

The proposed funding formula calls for Kentucky to finance two-thirds of the projected $1.4-billion bridge, while Indiana would pay for the remaining third.

[2] To reflect this decision by state and federal officials, crews began erecting Future I-69 signs along the following highway segments: On May 2, 2008, the United States House of Representatives passed HR-1195 (SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008) which designates the Pennyrile Parkway from Henderson to Nortonville and the Western Kentucky Parkway from Nortonville to I-24 at Eddyville as Future I-69.

[3][4][5][6] This legislation applied the Future I-69 designation to the following roadways: All four highways, except for the section of the Purchase Parkway south of Mayfield, are now signed as I-69.

All of I-164 was redesignated as I-69 in 2014,[10] but the Ohio River bridge plan had stalled in the late 2000s and early 2010s, due to lack of funding from both states.

Indiana contributed $17 million to restart and led the environmental studies that culminated in an approved EIS and ROD that allowed construction to begin.

Parsons Transportation Group, a California-based firm with offices in Indiana, was picked to complete environmental and preliminary design work on November 15, 2016.

The proposed money source developed the project and then began a portion of construction running from KY 425/Henderson Bypass to US 60.

Most—if not all—of the aforementioned bridges were built during construction of the parkways in the 1960s and are nearing the end of their serviceable lifespans and due to be replaced.

The summary further stated that "Continuing work on Interstate 69 in Kentucky will depend upon the financial support that can be garnered for the project through federal reauthorization and appropriations processes".

[citation needed] Nonetheless, the required improvements may be performed on individual segments of the parkways when the existing road surfaces reach the end of their lifespans, in what are known as "Pavement Preservation Projects".

During such a project, bridges and overpasses may be rehabilitated or replaced, drainage systems are upgraded, and other modifications are made to improve safety on the road without completely reconstructing it, allowing it to remain at least partially open during construction.

In 2007, work began on a $14.9-million (equivalent to $21.1 million in 2023[17]) project to replace seven miles (11 km) of pavement on the Pennyrile Parkway segment slated for the I-69 designation.

[19] In January 2010, then Governor Steve Beshear released the next draft Six-Year Plan for consideration by the Kentucky General Assembly.

The massive interchange with US 45 and US 51 at the Tennessee state line in South Fulton is the main challenge for completing SIU 6 and has been broken out as a separate project from SIUs 6 and 7.

A similar contract to reconstruct the parkway interchanges at the south end of the Mayfield Bypass (exit 21) and KY 80 was let in February 2016.

[23][24] Construction to upgrade the remaining southern half of the Purchase Parkway to I-69 between the Tennessee state line at Fulton and US 45 Bypass in Mayfield began in 2022 and was completed in December 2024, with I-69 signage being installed and the roadway being officially redesignated.

It was agreed upon by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the KYTC, and TDOT to prepare a separate environmental assessment (EA)/EIS for the Fulton–South Fulton interchange when both states were ready to perform its reconfiguration to accommodate I-69.

As Tennessee continues to make progress toward completing the unbuilt portion of SIU 7 to the south and Kentucky's upgrades to the Purchase Parkway from the north, both states indicated their intention to start work on reconfiguring the Fulton–South Fulton interchange.

A joint EA/EIS will be prepared by the KYTC and TDOT and submitted to the FHWA for a record of decision (ROD) prior to right-of-way acquisition and construction.