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Plan Calls For Second Bridge Next To Brent Spence


Last Update: 4/20/2009 8:18 pm
Plan Calls For Second Bridge Next To Brent Spence
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After years in the making, new and major plans are unveiled on Monday on how to advance the Brent Spence Bridge.

It’s considered the primary north-south transportation corridor from Florida to Canada.

"This is a national project and it’s important not only to the people of Kentucky and Ohio, but everybody in America," said Senator George Voinovich, (R) OH.

Senator Voinovich was joined by Congressmen Steve Driehaus, (D) OH and Geoff Davis, (R) KY, who listened to a report by transportation planners that takes four previous alternative plans and combines them into one.

It includes a new double-decker bridge west of the Brent Spence bridge to carry the I-75 traffic.

The existing bridge would handle I-71 and local traffic.

"By doing so, you cut the amount of time it takes to study – and by doing so, you cut the amount of money you have to spend. So, in a very general manner, that's exactly what has been decided out of this conceptual study," said Mark Policinski, with OKI Regional Council of Governments.

Now planners are looking at the potential impact to businesses and homes.

That includes Longworth Hall, Goebel Park, homes in the Lewisburg neighborhood in Covington as well as Duke Energy's substation at the foot of the bridge that's a major supplier for downtown.

"We will have to move some transmission lines which are those huge lines that carry a lot of voltage to a lot of neighborhoods and communities, but many less than we would have some of the alternative suggestions," said Johnna Reeder, spokesperson for Duke Energy.

Duke Energy customers can expect minimal impact. What does stand out in the project is the joint cooperation.

"An alternative you have Democratic and Republicans getting behind, representatives from Ohio and Kentucky getting behind, the House and Senate getting together. So, you have a unified force trying to fund the tremendous work done by OKI and its partners," said Rep. Driehaus.

Securing funding is what government leaders are now focused on, since this project will start out at around $800 million.
Public hearings will also need to be held.

If everything continues on this path, the start date for construction is 2013-2014.
Kentucky Post
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