
Kentucky officials have expressed concern about $1.6 billion in federal funding previously allocated for the Brent Spence Bridge project, saying any delay would cause the total cost of $3.6 billion to rise.
Officials from Covington, Ky., have recently discussed the importance of the project with state and federal lawmakers, according to a City of Covington news release.
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project is designed to invest in local communities and help grow America’s economy. @ODOT_Statewide and @KYTC will be sharing information about it here. Follow to stay up-to-date with the latest information. Learn more at https://t.co/zyHSzCx1eC pic.twitter.com/0KO8XYMvhB
— Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (@BSBCorridor) December 9, 2022
“As a route for $2 billion in goods a day and many thousands of workers’ commutes, the Brent Spence Bridge’s impact on local, regional and national commerce cannot be overestimated,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington. “We are confident that the White House will in time recognize the value and urgency of the project cannot afford even the shortest delay. It’s taken us decades to get to this point, and we cannot and must not take our foot off the pedal.”
The Brent Spence Bridge, which carries Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River between Covington and Cincinnati, has exceeded its capacity of 80,000 vehicles per day and become a bottleneck along a critical north-south corridor, according to state officials.
In May 2024, federal environmental approval was granted, allowing the three-phase project to move forward. The construction of a new bridge, improvements to the existing bridge and improvements along an 8-mile stretch approaching the river on either side are included in the more than $3 billion Brent Spence Bridge project.
Covington city officials said even a 1% escalation due to a 90-day pause could translate to a cost increase of more than $36 million.
“Given what’s at stake here, I assure our businesses and residents that we will continue to be vocal in moving the project toward the construction phase, and our federal partners share our cautious optimism,” Washington said. LL
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