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When will work on Brent Spence Bridge finally be over?


“They need to knock it down and start over,” said Burlington resident Allison McCauley. She was talking of Brent Spence Bridge, which has been under construction for the last seven months. Seven months of delays and headaches for a routine painting and cleaning project.“It's just a hassle. It's so long it's so much traffic, and I'm scared it's going to fall down,” McCauley said.The Brent Spence is still structurally sound, but most people are avoiding the bridge at all costs."We're really pretty much only over the Clay Wade Bailey at this point," said Jake Rouse, co-founder and CEO of Braxton Brewing Company, which has four locations on both sides of the river."At this point, it's like we just need it open so that we can get back to, you know, being able to go from place to place and not have to wait 45 minutes to cross it,” Rouse said.Good news for Rouse and the tens of thousands of other drivers who rely on the bridge: the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said the project is on schedule.The debate over replacing The Brent Spence Bridge has raged for decades. President Joe Biden even pledged to “fix that damn bridge" back in July. This is a sentiment echoed by people on both sides of the river.“The reality is, is we need a longer-term solution for the Brent Spence, whether it's a new bridge or repairs to actually make it work. But you know, it has to get fixed,” Rouse said.“I think the bridge has been down four times in the past five years. This is continuing to become a bigger issue and it needs to be solved.”Drivers might notice the tarps are officially down, but there is still work that needs to be done. Crews are now focusing on sign installation, pavement ratios, drainage and detailed paint work.Weather-permitting, the project should wrap up as anticipated on Nov. 15, but be on the lookout for the new traffic pattern in the southbound lanes. Right now, the current traffic pattern has the two right (westernmost) lanes open and the two left (easternmost) lanes closed — but come Saturday morning at 7 a.m., that will be flipped. The two left lanes will be open and the two right lanes will be closed.Be on the lookout Friday night for rolling roadblocks in 15 increments between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to allow for the shifting of this traffic pattern.Your best bet will be to take the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, the Taylor-Southgate Bridge or the Big Mac Bridge while this work is underway.

“They need to knock it down and start over,” said Burlington resident Allison McCauley.

She was talking of Brent Spence Bridge, which has been under construction for the last seven months. Seven months of delays and headaches for a routine painting and cleaning project.

“It's just a hassle. It's so long it's so much traffic, and I'm scared it's going to fall down,” McCauley said.

The Brent Spence is still structurally sound, but most people are avoiding the bridge at all costs.

"We're really pretty much only over the Clay Wade Bailey at this point," said Jake Rouse, co-founder and CEO of Braxton Brewing Company, which has four locations on both sides of the river.

"At this point, it's like we just need it open so that we can get back to, you know, being able to go from place to place and not have to wait 45 minutes to cross it,” Rouse said.

Good news for Rouse and the tens of thousands of other drivers who rely on the bridge: the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said the project is on schedule.

The debate over replacing The Brent Spence Bridge has raged for decades. President Joe Biden even pledged to “fix that damn bridge" back in July. This is a sentiment echoed by people on both sides of the river.

“The reality is, is we need a longer-term solution for the Brent Spence, whether it's a new bridge or repairs to actually make it work. But you know, it has to get fixed,” Rouse said.

“I think the bridge has been down four times in the past five years. This is continuing to become a bigger issue and it needs to be solved.”

Drivers might notice the tarps are officially down, but there is still work that needs to be done. Crews are now focusing on sign installation, pavement ratios, drainage and detailed paint work.

Weather-permitting, the project should wrap up as anticipated on Nov. 15, but be on the lookout for the new traffic pattern in the southbound lanes.

Right now, the current traffic pattern has the two right (westernmost) lanes open and the two left (easternmost) lanes closed — but come Saturday morning at 7 a.m., that will be flipped. The two left lanes will be open and the two right lanes will be closed.

Be on the lookout Friday night for rolling roadblocks in 15 increments between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to allow for the shifting of this traffic pattern.

Your best bet will be to take the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, the Taylor-Southgate Bridge or the Big Mac Bridge while this work is underway.


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