CINCINNATI — President Biden’s infrastructure bill has understandably sparked a lot of excitement about the Brent Spence Bridge, but the scope of the $1.2 trillion law will likely have lasting impacts beyond that particular connection between Ohio and Kentucky.

“We have a lot going on in the region that stands to benefit from the bill,” Jill Meyer, president and CEO of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, said Monday.

Meyer was invited to the White House for Monday’s bill signing.

“The possibilities for the Cincinnati Region, in particular, are vast,” she said.

This infrastructure bill addresses a wide variety of issues beyond roads and bridges. It sets aside $65 billion for high-speed internet, $25 billion for airports and $66 billion for passenger rail, among other areas. You can find a breakdown of funding estimates for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana here.

“The bottom line is that this gives people a travel option that they don’t have,” Stu Nicholson said.

Nicholson is the executive director of All Aboard Ohio, a transportation advocacy group focused on passenger rail expansion.

With Amtrak revealing earlier this year it wants to expand service in Cincinnati with daily routes to Chicago, Columbus, Cleveland and other cities, Nicholson is hopeful this massive investment in passenger rail will make that a reality. But, he warns these projects will still need local and state support.

“We need to make sure that Ohio is on board with this and willing to step up and put some chips on the table, so to speak, to make this happen,” Nicholson said.

“The Brent Spence Bridge is absolutely critical,” Meyer said. “I think there are some other pieces that come along with that. Continuing to invest in transit so we are moving people around our communities as efficiently and easily as we can.”

When it comes to Amtrak, Cincinnati does have limited options right now. The Cardinal line, which runs from New York City to Chicago, passes through Cincinnati three times each week. The City of Oxford has taken steps this year to build an Amtrak platform in hopes the passenger rail expansion could include that corner of Butler County.

CINCINNATI —

With the stroke of a pen, President Joe Biden ignited a flurry of interest in design plans that show what an improved Brent Spence Bridge corridor might look like.

"Being there and being a part of it, it was just incredible, history in the making," Jill Meyer said.

Meyer is president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. She was in Washington for Monday's infrastructure bill signing ceremony.

Now that it's law, Ohio and Kentucky will get billions of dollars for a host of projects. The betting money is that a chunk of that cash will help pay for a new Brent Spence companion bridge.

"This is a real opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime generational opportunity for us to finally get some funding for projects like this," said Brent Cooper, president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

On both sides of the Ohio River, there's a real sense that a better Brent Spence Bridge is close at hand, even if it does take several years to build.

One set of design concepts created several years ago show what the current bridge and a companion span might look like.

The plans show one side of a companion bridge carrying all traffic on Interstate 75 southbound and southbound Interstate 71 as well as local drivers. The other side shows the existing Brent Spence, with local cars on the lower deck and drivers heading on 71 northbound on the upper deck.

Meyer and other bridge advocates point out the designs were unveiled seven years ago. And things could change when engineers find out how much money the bridge project will receive.

Even with those new unknowns, the old design concepts illustrate how much attention the functionally obsolete Brent Spence Bridge has received over the years.

"The hold back has been when can we start?" Meyer said. "This influx of money at this time is critically important and at the right time."

Mark Policinski, CEO of the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana Regional Council of Governments said a companion bridge, if approved, would be built next to the Brent Spence, on the western side of the bridge.

One reason for that is the western side has the same environmental footprint as the existing bridge, which means construction could possibly start in 2023.

Drivers, prepare for the next round of changes to your Brent Spence commute. The good news: This should be one of the last major traffic changes before the bridge reopens to full capacity. The bad news: It will mean another weekend of major traffic headaches.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Wednesday the next traffic pattern change it will implement on the bridge carrying Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington. The traffic changes are part of an ongoing, months-long maintenance and repainting project on the bridge.

Disruptions this weekend

In order to implement the lane changes, crews will need to close additional lanes and traffic exits between Friday, Aug. 20 and Sunday, Aug. 22.

The long and short of it: Avoid using the bridge if you're traveling northbound Friday night into Saturday, especially if you're trying to continue onto I-71 or I-75 North.

Here's a breakdown of where bridge drivers will be able to get and when throughout the weekend:

• Northbound lanes will reduce to ONE lane both Friday and Saturday nights.
• Access from the bridge to I-75 north will be CLOSED Friday night into early Saturday morning.
• Access from the bridge to I-71 north will be CLOSED late Saturday morning, reopening by noon.

Brian Niesz/WCPO

Here's a rough timeline of the lane and access closure:

• Beginning 10 p.m. Friday, the bridge's lower, northbound deck will reduce to one lane of traffic.
• Also at 10 p.m. Friday, access from the bridge to I-75 northbound will be CLOSED until Saturday morning.
• Once crews reopen access to I-75 northbound, they immediately will close the bridge's access to I-71 northbound. Access to I-71 is expected to reopen later Saturday.
• Overnight Friday, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., law enforcement will implement rolling roadblocks on I-71/75 northbound. Police will hold traffic in 15-minute intervals to allow road crews to safely establish the new traffic patterns.
• By noon Saturday, two lanes of northbound travel will be restored (the left two lanes).
• Overnight Saturday, the northbound deck will again be reduced to one lane as crews finalize their work.
• By 6 a.m. Sunday, the new traffic pattern — the two left lanes open — will be set into place.

New traffic pattern

For the last several weeks, the middle two northbound lanes on the bridge's lower deck have been closed, leaving only the outer two lanes open to access I-71 on the right and I-75 on the left.

By Sunday, only the two left lanes will be open.

That traffic pattern on the lower deck should remain in place until the project is complete in November, weather permitting, according to KYTC officials.

There will be no change to the upper deck's southbound lanes: The two right lanes will remain open, and the two left lanes will remain closed. A change to the upper deck's traffic pattern will take place leading up to the project's completion.

CINCINNATI —

Optimism about a funding formula for a new Brent Spence bridge may be reaching its highest point ever.

For the first time, there are indications a replacement bridge could be funded without controversial tolls, an issue that has stalled the major infrastructure project in the past.

Seven years ago, when the idea was to start construction in 2015 and have a new bridge open by 2020, no one was saying it could happen without tolls.

Now in the summer of 2021, the political environment on tolls seems to be shifting.

You won't find the words Brent Spence in the infrastructure bill Congress is considering. But reading between the lines, it has a presence every bit as real as the aggravating congestion that is its principle daily feature.

Sens. Rob Portman, a Republican, and Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, have crafted the language in a way that makes a case for more federal funding than many considered possible.

Brent Cooper of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce ran down the list.

"Amount of vehicles, environmental impact, you go down the economic impact to the country,” Cooper said. “All of that is a consideration in this bill, which means the way I read it we could get up to 80% or more for our Brent Spence bridge."

It would seem this region would enjoy a competitive advantage for the federal grants that could lead to 80% funding.

"I spent yesterday talking with House leadership, Senate leadership and the governor's office about exactly that," Cooper said in an interview Thursday. "About could we do it without tolling being involved or can we do it at all? Can we get the willpower to get this project done? And I, what I heard was yes, that there is the will to get it done."

This raises this question about Kentucky's portion, whatever it would turn out to be.

Notwithstanding that tolling could still be in the picture ultimately, there has been talk of utilizing other funding sources on an annual basis for a fixed amount of time provided the federal government would cover 80% to 90% of the costs.

"Is it possible it might not involve tolling? Yeah, I think it is possible," Cooper answered to his own question. "But it's still going to require a big, loud voice from all of us saying we need this."

This is why the Northern Kentucky Chamber is hyper-active right now urging Senate and House members to pass the bill and watch the bridge with its Olympic-sized history of hurdles go for the gold.

CINCINNATI — President Joe Biden visited the Tri-State Wednesday to talk about infrastructure and the economy among other things, but a few of the president's statements were outright wrong or factually false.

One of the things the president discussed was gun violence in the Tri-State.

Biden said, "You've had a lot of gun violence here in Cincinnati. I think it's up to what, how many dead? Five hundred over a period? Don't hold me to the number whatever it was."

However, according to Cincy Insights, there haven't been 500 shootings in Cincinnati so far in 2021. There have been 191 reported shootings in the city, and 39 of them were deadly. Even if the time frame is extended to the last five years, the data shows there have been 278 deadly shootings.

While one deadly shooting is too many, the president saying there have been 500 deadly shootings is wrong.

The president also said, "We're not in a position where we think that any virus, including the delta virus, which is much more transmissible and more deadly in terms of non- unvaccinated people... the various shots that people are getting now cover that. They're, you're okay. You're not going to, you're not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations."

That's false. Vaccinated people can still get COVID-19. A couple from the Tri-State were both vaccinated, but they both contracted the delta variant.

"A lot of folks I know got the vaccine, and they're like, 'OK. It's all over,' but, clearly it's not," Rachelle Caplan said. "We still should be being cautious for ourselves and other people."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in July that 5,492 people who died or were hospitalized with COVID-19 were vaccinated. However, the CDC also said more than a quarter of hospitalizations were asymptomatic or not related to COVID-19, and about a quarter of those who died were found to be the same.

Finally, Biden commented on bridges and infrastructure.

"Take a look at Ohio and Kentucky," Biden said. "Combined, there's well over, there are thousands of bridges that need repair."

According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are about 42,000 bridges in Ohio and Kentucky and 2,400 of them are in "poor condition." The maligned Brent Spence Bridge actually falls into the "fair" category per the administration.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Drivers who have just gotten used to the new traffic patterns on the Brent Spence Bridge should brace themselves for another shakeup this week.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Monday new lane closures on the Interstate 71/75 span across the Ohio River that will go into effect this coming weekend. The changes will impact northbound traffic only.

Starting at 10 p.m. Friday, access to I-75 north from the bridge will be closed as crews prepare for the next phase of maintenance and repainting. Once that setup is complete, crews will then close the bridge's access to I-71 north. KYTC officials said they expect that closure to remain in effect until 5 a.m. Sunday, at which point the longer-term lane patterns will be put into place.

By Sunday morning, the two center northbound lanes on the bridge will be closed, leaving the far-right and far-left lanes open: The far-right lane will provide access to I-71, and the far-left lane will provide access to I-75.

Officials expect this traffic pattern to remain in effect through Sunday, Aug. 29. The southbound traffic patterns — the two right lanes are open, while the two left lanes are closed — will remain in place.

Also in the release, KYTC District 6 chief engineer Bob Yeager said the maintenance project remained on schedule.

"We are more than 50% complete with the maintenance project on the bridge," he said. "This is a routine project that is part of the normal lifecycle of a major structure like the Brent Spence Bridge."

Yeager also emphasized in the release that inspections of the bridge show it remains safe to carry vehicles.

"They continue to reiterate the structure is sturdy, it is safe, and our maintenance work will ensure it stays that way," he said.

When KYTC first announced the project, they estimated work would continue through November 2021.

CINCINNATI —

Business and political leaders are expressing cautious optimism tonight about a new Brent Spence Bridge.

We're told there is more recognition than ever about the damaging effects of gridlock and the pivotal moment that's upon us.

President Biden will be in Cincinnati next Wednesday for a town hall on infrastructure. He might want to speak with Gene Kirchner, who just met with an IT business in Northern Kentucky.

"They had lost over a million dollars in productivity in the last year because of gridlock, because of the bridge," Kirchner said.

That's just one company. Amazon is under construction until next year.

Along with DHL, its future in the area means this region's global logistics hub is about to really start humming.

The Northern Kentucky-Southwestern Ohio economic eco-system thrives on the notion that you can live on one side of the river and work on the other.

"Well, there are people who are choosing not to do that now because they don't want to deal with the gridlock," warned Kirchner.

Northern Kentucky still doesn't want to deal with tolls to pay for a new bridge. When asked about funding last week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters, "All of those issues are decided in the state capital."

When we asked Kentucky's Junior Senator Rand Paul in Erlanger Friday, he responded, "I try not to dictate whether we have tolls or not tolls. I tell people I'm agnostic, the community needs to decide that."

But privately, elected officials have told business leaders if there's no local match there's no new bridge.

"I drive to Chicago today, it's $10 in tolls," explained Brent Cooper, head of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "If you've got an Illinois plate and we're not at least charging you $10 when you drive through our area, I think we're crazy. We should at least return the favor and charge them what they're billing us."

The Chamber says it's not advocating for or against tolls. It just wants a solution before mid-term campaigning puts bipartisanship on the back burner.

What's being drawn up as part of the infrastructure bill is a prioritizing of bridges, not by name but by age, traffic count, condition, gridlock and the spanning of two states.

Any read between any lines screams Brent Spence. Leaders believe the stars have never been more aligned, but there's no deal yet and no funding solution worked out.

It is edge-of-seat time once again for local leaders who have been pushing for a new Brent Spence Bridge across the Ohio River.

They are looking hopefully to the bipartisan infrastructure bill that is before Congress.

Whether it's wishful thinking, spot-on analysis or guesswork, Kentucky's governor suggested Monday that tolls may not be a make-or-break issue after all.

Andy Beshear said he is "waiting with bated breath" to see if President Joe Biden's administration will include the Brent Spence in the bipartisan bill. We've heard for decades how funding a new major artery requires a local match, defined by those who would make it as tolls.

"And right now I'm not sure that there's community support for that," Beshear told reporters.

But at NKU Monday where he delivered grants for various projects, some involving transportation, the governor pinned hopes on large federal project thinking.

"I don't think where we are on tolls has anything to do with whether or not they're going to invest," Beshear said.

Like vehicles on the 58-year-old covered span, optimism is inching forward once again. But the community has been down this well-traveled road many times.

"Transportation in this community is awful," Northern Kentucky Chamber President Brent Cooper said.

He said the current situation is taking — as he put it — a brutal toll on commuters and commerce.

"We have employers who have lost employees because of the Brent Spence Bridge, who are unable to get new employees because of the Brent Spence Bridge. The Chambers of Commerce on both sides of the river are hearing this every day. So, something has to get done," Cooper said.

When this year ends, the Brent Spence will have either been closed or limited to two lanes for over 13 months.

Intrigued by the governor's remarks, he's nevertheless from Missouri about it.

"We would love it if tolls weren't necessary, believe me. But we don't know how that's possible at this point," Cooper said.

Neither does the senate minority leader.

In Louisville Monday, Mitch McConnell bluntly told media: "The biggest part of the problem has been in Frankfort, not in Washington."

McConnell is a key part of what happens to the bipartisan infrastructure bill Congress is considering. As he spoke, Monday's traffic was its typical congested mess.

It exacts such a toll on daily patience, even a question about tolls seems exasperating at times.

"I don't know," McConnell answered. "I don't know for sure. But I do know that's the way it was done here. That's the way it's going to be done down near Henderson. But huge challenge in Northern Kentucky and I understand why. They got a lot of commuters."

It took two hours for Reds fans to get from Florence to the ballpark the other day.

Business leaders lament the domino effect of Brent Spence Bridge congestion on other major roadways.

"Something has to get done," Cooper said. "We're tired of saying it. We're begging people to come to the table. Yes, tolling is a challenge. But what's happening now is much, much worse."

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said: "While we are in early stages of drafting legislation, a path forward for the Brent Spence Bridge is, and always has been, a priority for the Senator. While this framework includes unprecedented levels of funding for major projects like the BSB, the state and local officials involved in this project still need to address their part of this process in order to move forward."

COVINGTON, Ky. —

The Brent Spence Bridge is expected to be targeted in President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan, but despite the proposed tax increases, the possibility of tolls still hasn’t been ruled out.

“If there’s a list of bridges that need repair in this country and the Brent Spence isn’t on it, it’s a bad list. It’s an awful list,” said Ohio, Kentucky Indiana Council of Governments CEO Mark Policinski.

Policinski said this plan has a better chance of passing than the last seven infrastructure plans that have gone to Congress.

“I think what has happened is politics have met reality, which doesn’t often happen, but in this case, I think it did,” Policinski said.

The plan would put about $621 billion into transportation.

Even though the Brent Spence Bridge is likely to get attention in the plan, there are no specific details about how much.

“We don’t know if the feds are going to be in at 100 percent or if they’re going to be in at 80% or 50%,” Policinski said.

Without knowing that, there’s no way to rule out tolls.

Biden has said certain taxes would be raised to pay for the plan.

So, the possibility remains that taxes would be raised and a toll would still be placed on the bridge.

“Well, that’s the nightmare, but the whole point is that we have to wait and see what happens,” Policinski said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he is already skeptical about whether he’ll vote for the plan.

“If it’s going to have massive tax increases and trillions added to the national debt, not likely,” McConnell said.