(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced today that the two states jointly submitted a second federal funding application to support bridge and roadway improvements along the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky.
The new funding request was made to the Bridge Investment Program and is in addition to the still-pending May 2022 funding request made to the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant Program. Ohio and Kentucky articulated in both applications that a total of $1.66 billion in federal grant funding is needed regardless of which discretionary grant program awards funds to the project. The states are applying to multiple Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) grant programs to give themselves the best chance of receiving maximum funding, a strategy that is in line with the pledges of Governors DeWine and Beshear to pursue every federal dollar available for this bridge project.
“Now, more than ever, our national economy depends on the efficient movement of people, goods, and services on our federal Interstate System,” said Governor DeWine. “The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is long overdue, and our residents deserve to have these highway infrastructure upgrades become a reality. Ohio and Kentucky continue to work closely with our federal partners to secure the funding we need to invest in our future through the transformation of this critical corridor.”
“The time for us to act is now,” said Governor Beshear. “Kentucky and Ohio are working with our partners to ensure we have the funding we need to complete improvements along the Brent Spence Bridge corridor. There is a tremendous sense of urgency surrounding this project because we recognize how important it is for the people we serve. I want us to be able to break ground next year.”
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project calls for the construction of 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. Ohio and Kentucky will share the cost of the new bridge equally, and each state will be responsible for the needed work on its side of the Ohio River.
As the project moves closer to full funding, the pace of activity has picked up to ensure construction readiness. The bi-state project team is prioritizing the following activities while the federal funding requests are under review:
- Updating the financial plan to align with existing funding opportunities and anticipated project needs, including evaluation of the potential impacts of inflation on the funding plans for each state;
- Continuing development of the revised concept for the new companion bridge, which significantly improves safety by separating through and local traffic;
- Analyzing potential options for construction using the design/build process; and
- Performing environmental field work, including updating air and noise evaluations.
About the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project
Fueled by bipartisan cooperation and community engagement, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will invest in local communities and help grow America’s economy. Spanning eight miles between the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio and Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the project will address the second-worst truck bottleneck in the nation by improving safety and travel on the interstate connection that carries more than $700 billion worth of freight every year.
In addition, the project will improve access to the central business districts of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, and will also support local businesses and underserved communities in historic neighborhoods on both sides of the river. Ohio and Kentucky are working together to deliver this transformative project that will improve the quality of life for the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system to travel between the two states and beyond.