From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

Governors Beshear and DeWine Submit Second Federal Funding Request for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project
Additional funding will support bridge and roadway improvements that will grow the economy and invest in local communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug.10, 2022) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that a second federal funding application was submitted jointly by the two states to support bridge and roadway improvements along the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky.

The current funding request is through the Bridge Investment Program, which follows the May funding request through the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant Program. Ohio and Kentucky articulated in both applications that a total of $1.66 billion in federal grant funding is needed regardless of which discretionary grant program awards funds to the project. The states are applying to multiple grant programs to give themselves the best chance of receiving maximum funding, in keeping with the pledges of Govs. DeWine and Beshear to pursue every available federal dollar.

[Read Full Text]

The Associated Press has a brief story about how the questions of where and how to pay for a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge still remain to be answered: Associated Press: Tolls, location problems in bridge planning (Feb. 9, 2009) 

The historic Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington may close for a year beginning in October for repainting and repair: Cincinnati Enquirer: Suspension Bridge may close for year (March 28, 2006) 

At nearly $110 million, the low bid for constructing a new bridge across the Ohio River at Russell came in well above the Ohio Department of Transportation’s estimates: Ashland Daily Independent: $110M bid for new bridge puts funding in question (Jan. 13, 2006) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation has delayed the opening of bids for the Ironton-Russell Bridge project; however, the delay is not expected to affect the beginning of construction which is scheduled for spring 2006: Ashland Daily Independent: Bids for Ironton-Russell Bridge delayed (Nov. 6, 2005) 

Ownership of the “Purple People Bridge” is closer to being transferred to a not-for-profit organization. The Newport city council recently voted to accept ownership of the bridge from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and to transfer ownership of the bridge to the not-for-profit Newport Southbank Bridge Company.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge closer to transfer; Commissioners take first vote on turning over ownership of Purple People Bridge (Nov. 2, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer profiles the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, one of the planning agencies behind major highway projects in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky: Cincinnati Enquirer: All major roads eventually lead to OKI; Group heavily involved in local highways (Oct. 13, 2005) 

One percent of the budget to build a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge will be used to improve the bridge’s aesthetics: Kentucky Post: Bridge will be one of a kind (Oct. 7, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Goal: Get bridge right; Much study underpins planning for Brent Spence replacement (Oct. 17, 2005) 

A not-for-profit organization has raised and spent thousands of dollars to beautify the former L&N Bridge over the Ohio River at Newport; however, plans to transfer ownership of the bridge to Southbank Partners have been delayed. Part of the bridge—the former railroad tracks—is still owned by L&N’s successor corporation CSX Transportation. The road portion of the bridge has been converted to a pedestrian walkway and is owned by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Questions over who will pay for the upkeep of parts of the structure have lead to the delay in transferring the state owned portion of the bridge.

More information: Kentucky Post: Span's ownership remains with state; Public-private transfer delayed (Sept. 16, 2005) 

The Kentucky Post takes a look at this history of the Roebling Suspension Bridge: Kentucky Post: After many false starts, Roebling spanned the Ohio (Sept. 12, 2005) 

The Federal Aviation Administration has raised concerns that a proposed cable-stayed bridge across the Ohio River between Ironton, Ohio and Russell, Kentucky might interfere with navigation to a nearby airport. The $68 million bridge will replace the current Ironton-Russell Bridge, a narrow, two-lane structure which was completed in 1922.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New bridge work could be delayed (July 14, 2005) , Ashland Daily Independent: FAA approves bridge (July 17, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently published a special section covering proposed improvements to I-75 in Cincinnati: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-75: The Big Fix 

A new traffic study may eventually lead to improvements to I-471. The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments recently approved a $750,000 study of the region’s “Southeast Corridor.”

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Study could help unclog I-471; OKI authorizes look at 'southeast corridor' in Campbell County (June 10, 2005) 

Progress is once again visible on the U.S. Grant Bridge south of Portsmouth, Ohio. A new bridge is being constructed over the Ohio River on the site of a bridge demolished in 2001. The Ohio Department of Transportation has a scheduled opening date of October 31, 2006 for the new bridge.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Bridge to Portsmouth shows signs of progress (May 19, 2005) 

Barring any unforeseen problems, the Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington will be repainted next summer: Kentucky Post: River Rainbow (May 14, 2005) 

A project to rehabilitate the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge was recently completed: Cincinnati Post: Clay Wade Bailey in good repair (May 14, 2005) 

Covington city officials recently helped the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet perform a traffic study to examine patterns of traffic coming from the Roebling Suspension Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: Traffic patterns getting hard look (May 3, 2005) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have awarded the engineering firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff an $18 million contract to perform a study on how to best replace the Brent Spence Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: Engineering firm gets $18M to design new Brent Spence (April 22, 2005) 

A group of residents is urging that any replacement bridge be constructed as a signature piece for the area: Cincinnati Post: Signature bridge urged (April 22, 2005) 

New welcome signs have been installed on interstates across the state. The Cincinnati Enquirer has a photograph of sign installation on the Combs-Hehl Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: New welcome signs going up; Crews install them at 11 expressway gateways (April 6, 2005) 

The Roebling Suspension Bridge will be painted this year, but a color has to be chosen first: Cincinnati Enquirer: Is UK blue OK hue for Roebling? (March 26, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Pick a color, any color (March 26, 2005) 

Work to repaint Ashland’s twin Ohio River bridges is expected to begin this summer. A project to repaint the 13th Street Bridge is expected to begin this summer, and work to repaint the 12th Street Bridge is expected to begin in 2007.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Ohio River bridges to get facelift (March 21, 2005) 

Residents of Licking Riverside Historic Neighborhood in Covington are seeking traffic changes to reduce thru traffic through neighborhood streets. The neighborhood sits near the approach to the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: New traffic route urged (March 14, 2005) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that the new U.S. Grant Bridge over the Ohio River at Portsmouth, Ohio should be open to traffic in late-2006. The new cable-stayed bridge for US 23 was originally to be opened in 2004.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: ODOT: Grant bridge back on track (March 9, 2005) 

Representatives of the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments have been in Washington this week to lobby for money to study possible upgrades to I-471 in Northern Kentucky: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Planners: Upgrade I-471 (Feb. 7, 2005) 

Wrecks caused backups on I-71 and I-24 and summary of snow response statewide: Associated Press: Winter storm coats parts of Kentucky with snow, ice (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Winter Storm Coats Much Of Kentucky With Snow, Ice (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Summary of snow response in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Kentucky and Ohio counties declare weather emergencies (Dec. 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Now, time to dig out (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Snow response in the Glasgow area: Glasgow Daily Times: Winter storm hits Kentucky (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Motorists became stranded on part of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway near Hopkinsville: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Storm paralyzes region (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher has declared a state of emergency in the following counties and cities: McLean, Hancock, Livingston, Hopkins, City of Providence, City of Owensboro, City of Falmouth, City of Butler, Todd, Daviess, Crittenden, Carlisle, Shelby, Muhlenberg, Pendleton, Bullitt and Grayson: WAVE 3: Governor Ernie Fletcher's Office Declares State of Emergency (Dec. 23, 2004) 

I-64 in Indiana remains closed between Evansville and the Illinois state line. The National Guard has been rescuing stranded motorists along the interstate: Associated Press: Guardsmen Rescuing Travelers Stranded On Southern Indiana Highway (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Stranded travelers recall cold night on snowbound highway (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Snow Storm Snarls Much Of Southern, Central Indiana (Dec. 23, 2004) , Evansville Courier & Press: Indiana National Guardsmen rescue stranded motorists from Interstate 64 (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Current Conditions

Information regarding conditions on Kentucky’s highway can be obtained by calling 1-800-RDREPORT, by calling 511 from an in-state telephone, or by visiting ww.511.ky.gov .

Maps of roads that will be cleared by the state government can be found at: www.kytc.state.ky.us/maintenance/Snow_Ice.htm .

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports in this July 27, 2001 article  that the U.S. Senate may approve a bill authorizing $2 million to begin a study on replacing Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River in 2002. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had been planning to start the study in 2006.