The new bridge over the Ohio River – long called a “companion” to the Brent Spence Bridge – will feature a design that does not require steel between the top and bottom decks.
Instead, the new bridge will be a “cable-stayed” two-deck structure, with both decks supported by a cabling system, Ohio and Kentucky officials announced June 18.
“We wanted this bridge to be cost-effective, functional and safe, but we also wanted it to look good,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press release. “This bridge will become an iconic part of the Cincinnati skyline and a landmark gateway that honors our states’ excellence.”
Added Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear: “The new companion bridge will be a game-changer for commuting families and it’ll revolutionize a crucial economic corridor.”
Full-on construction to start late 2025 or early 2026
The $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project – to be in full construction mode by late this year or early next year – calls for:
Managers of the overall project outlined work happening this year for a May Enquirer story.
“This is a once-in-a-generation project,” Tommy Arnold, project manager for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said then.
What’s ahead this year for the bridge project
Here’s what’s planned for the balance of the year:
The goal with each of those – and the dozens that will follow – is the same: Renovate the existing bridge and add a new one to move vehicles and people more efficiently and safely.
“We’re looking … to improve the community, the local level, the east-west connectivity, all up and down the corridor,” said Stacee Hans, Arnold’s counterpart as project manager for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘Game-changer’: New Brent Spence companion bridge design unveiled
Reporting by Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
