A new bridge will span the Ohio River, linking the US states of Kentucky and Ohio. The work will also include rebuilding stretches of I-71/I-75 in Kentucky and Ohio, with the design portion of the project being headed by Aecom.
The centrepiece of the US$3.6 billion project will be the construction of a new bridge in parallel with the existing Brent Spence Bridge. The Brent Spence Bridge opened to traffic in 1963 and is a key route for freight and interstate travel. The Brent Spence Bridge is structurally sound and will remain in service for local traffic, however it is no longer able to cope with the sheer volume of vehicles using the route. The Brent Spence Bridge’s design capacity is for 80,000 vehicles/day and far more vehicles now use the route, leading to congestion and delays.
Aecom’s brief is to provide the necessary improvements that will ensure better traffic flow and safety for drivers. The work includes upgrading the complex interchange geometry, boosting capacity; and improving the interstate link between Kentucky and Ohio. The construction work will be carried out by a joint venture team comprising Kokosing and Walsh Construction. Around 1.6km of the I-71/I-75 route in Ohio will be rebuilt along with 8km of the I-71/I-75 route in Kentucky.
Financing worth $1.6 billion is being provided by a federal source, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bridge will connect the city of Cincinnati in Ohio with Covington in Kentucky.
The new bridge will improve traffic flow for both regional and national travellers. In addition, multiple projects along the 13km I-71/75 corridor on either end of the Brent Spence Bridge will be carried out to improve travel and safety. Ohio's Department of Transportation and Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet will manage these improvements.
