HENDERSON, Ky. (AP): The governors of Kentucky and Indiana have signed an agreement to begin preliminary work aimed at building a new Ohio River bridge linking the two states along Interstate 69.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said Thursday their states will split the approximately $17 million cost for preliminary design work and an environmental review for the proposed crossing.

The governors signed the memorandum of agreement at an event outside Ellis Park race track at Henderson near the Ohio River.

Bevin says it will be years before the project “starts to take form” but says the agreement means the proposal will move forward.

The governors did not offer a cost estimate for the span. An advocacy coalition estimates a four-lane bridge would cost about $850 million.