Last day for public comment on Brent Spence Bridge project

COVINGTON, Ky. - Friday is the deadline for public comment and input regarding the Brent Spence Bridge project and officials want to hear from you.

Currently the design plan does not offer direct access to 5th Street when traveling on NB I-75 as it is now and instead the plan will require motorists to exit at 12th Street and then travel on a new, one-way, local road from 12th to the city's riverfront area at 5th through several traffic signals.

The recommended modification to Alternative "I" would restore direct access to 5th Street from NB I-75.

The southbound Alternative "I" design does provide access to 5th Street and 9th Street from SB I-75. However, the decision point is located one mile north of the Ohio River near the Museum Center at Ezzard Charles Boulevard. Once past this exit, the next opportunity to exit in Kentucky from southbound I-75 will occur at Kyles Lane in Fort Wright.

No opportunity to exit into Covington is available once the city or bridge is visible. The Northern Kentucky community feels direct access from I-75 southbound into Covington on the Kentucky side of the bridge is necessary. The project team has looked at several options and has determined a direct ramp from I-75 southbound to 9th Street is a feasible modification.

The Northern Kentucky Community has rallied in support of these modifications with letters, resolutions and various other vehicles of support for the City of Covington's suggested access modifications. The following is a list of supporters:

• City of Covington Board of Commissioners
• Southbank Partners
• Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Kenton County Fiscal Court
• Northern Kentucky Tri County Economic Development Corporation
• Covington Business Council
• Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Corporex Companies
• Marriott Hotel, Kenton County Public Library
• Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission
• Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
• The Drees Pavilion
• Northern Kentucky Area Development District
• Senator Rand Paul
• Northern Kentucky Convention Center
• City of Newport, City of Bellevue
• Behringer-Crawford Museum in Devou Park
• Cincinnati Mayor Mallory

The city sponsored an informational public meeting on April 11, 2012, where more than 150 supporters attended. Following that meeting, Kentucky and Ohio state transportation officials hosted public meetings on April 24 in Cincinnati with about 100 in attendance, and on April 25, in Covington, with more than 350 in attendance.

Other modifications recommended by the city of Covington to the proposed design include changes that will impact the Lewisburg neighborhood, Goebel Park and access to Devou Park.

For questions about the proposed design and recommended modifications, please contact Assistant City Engineer Mike Yeager at myeager@covingtonky.gov .  Public comments will be accepted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet until May 25, 2012.

Please send comments to stacee.hans@ky.gov .