More than $1.5 billion in federal funding has been approved for the Brent Spence Bridge Project, giving the landmark bridge and corridor project the green light to move forward with construction.Both Ohio and Kentucky's governors along with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval announced that the and U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1.635 billion to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to construct a new companion bridge to the Brent Spence Bridge. The funding will also be used to make significant improvements to the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, which runs from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to the Dixie Highway in Kentucky.The funding is one of the largest grants in U.S. history, representing a historic 98.5 percent of Ohio and Kentucky’s request for the project. This grant was awarded through two different funding sources:$250 million from a Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MEGA), which assists large, complex projects that are economically significant.$1.385 billion from the Bridge Investment Program. This money will be distributed under a multi-year grant agreement with ODOT and KYTC, a new funding mechanism created to assist large bridge projects. This was the second federal funding application submitted jointly by the two states.“This historic amount of support from President Biden and our federal partners means that we’re on pace to reshape our infrastructure and the economic growth of our region for generations to come,” Pureval said in a statement. “They got it done, when for years, others could not. And thanks to our incredible regional team of state and local partners, we are ready to push this groundbreaking project to the finish line.” “Ohio and Kentucky have been discussing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn’t stall on this nationally significant corridor. My administration vowed to press the federal government to fund this project, and we’re glad that they have recognized its significance. I’m grateful to the teams in both states who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.”With funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is expected to state in late 2023, with substantial completion slated for 2029.“I’m thrilled the time has finally come for us to get the companion bridge built,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “Funding and constructing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is more than the fulfillment of my administration’s promise – it’s a dream-fulfilled for the thousands of travelers who pass through the bustling region every day waiting eagerly for traffic relief to come on this nationally significant corridor. It also shows what’s possible when we prioritize people over politics. Once complete, drivers will have a more enjoyable and efficient drive and we’ll have the infrastructure in place to support the booming economy in this part of the state."The bridge was built in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day, but the daily traffic load has reached 160,000 vehicles in recent years.Talk of replacing the bridge stalled when the pandemic hit.Then, in November 2020, a fiery crash set the bridge on fire, shutting down all traffic for weeks.And then last year, a maintenance project to clean and paint the bridge resulted in ramp and lane closures for eight months. The project will create a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. This will create more pedestrian access to reconnect the downtown area with its western neighborhoods. The city of Cincinnati will regain nearly 10 acres of land to develop in the downtown area. In Kentucky, the project will include a new storm sewer system to reduce flooding and improve local roads, including enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, in the area of the existing and new bridge. “Nothing great is achieved alone and I’m proud of all the people who’ve come to the table over the years to ensure that we’ll deliver a project with huge benefits and minimal impacts to the communities that live in and around the project area,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said in a statement. The immediate next step will be the selection process to determine the Progressive Design Build contractor team to complete the project. That effort will begin in January when the Request for Proposals (RFP) is released to the contractor community.
More than $1.5 billion in federal funding has been approved for the Brent Spence Bridge Project, giving the landmark bridge and corridor project the green light to move forward with construction.
Both Ohio and Kentucky's governors along with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval announced that the and U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1.635 billion to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to construct a new companion bridge to the Brent Spence Bridge.
The funding will also be used to make significant improvements to the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, which runs from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to the Dixie Highway in Kentucky.
The funding is one of the largest grants in U.S. history, representing a historic 98.5 percent of Ohio and Kentucky’s request for the project.
This grant was awarded through two different funding sources:
- $250 million from a Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MEGA), which assists large, complex projects that are economically significant.
- $1.385 billion from the Bridge Investment Program. This money will be distributed under a multi-year grant agreement with ODOT and KYTC, a new funding mechanism created to assist large bridge projects. This was the second federal funding application submitted jointly by the two states.
“This historic amount of support from President Biden and our federal partners means that we’re on pace to reshape our infrastructure and the economic growth of our region for generations to come,” Pureval said in a statement. “They got it done, when for years, others could not. And thanks to our incredible regional team of state and local partners, we are ready to push this groundbreaking project to the finish line.”
“Ohio and Kentucky have been discussing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “This project will not only ease the traffic nightmare that drivers have suffered through for years, but it will also help ensure that the movement of the supply chain doesn’t stall on this nationally significant corridor. My administration vowed to press the federal government to fund this project, and we’re glad that they have recognized its significance. I’m grateful to the teams in both states who have worked so hard to make this project a reality.”
With funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is expected to state in late 2023, with substantial completion slated for 2029.
“I’m thrilled the time has finally come for us to get the companion bridge built,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement. “Funding and constructing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is more than the fulfillment of my administration’s promise – it’s a dream-fulfilled for the thousands of travelers who pass through the bustling region every day waiting eagerly for traffic relief to come on this nationally significant corridor. It also shows what’s possible when we prioritize people over politics. Once complete, drivers will have a more enjoyable and efficient drive and we’ll have the infrastructure in place to support the booming economy in this part of the state."
The bridge was built in the 1960s to carry around 80,000 vehicles a day, but the daily traffic load has reached 160,000 vehicles in recent years.
Talk of replacing the bridge stalled when the pandemic hit.
Then, in November 2020, a fiery crash set the bridge on fire, shutting down all traffic for weeks.
And then last year, a maintenance project to clean and paint the bridge resulted in ramp and lane closures for eight months.
The project will create a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. This will create more pedestrian access to reconnect the downtown area with its western neighborhoods. The city of Cincinnati will regain nearly 10 acres of land to develop in the downtown area. In Kentucky, the project will include a new storm sewer system to reduce flooding and improve local roads, including enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, in the area of the existing and new bridge.
“Nothing great is achieved alone and I’m proud of all the people who’ve come to the table over the years to ensure that we’ll deliver a project with huge benefits and minimal impacts to the communities that live in and around the project area,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said in a statement.
The immediate next step will be the selection process to determine the Progressive Design Build contractor team to complete the project. That effort will begin in January when the Request for Proposals (RFP) is released to the contractor community.
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