The two states are getting the money in the form of federal grants to help build a new bridge over the Ohio River near Cincinnati to help with the load carried by the aging Brent Spence Bridge. Part of those funds will be used to help improve the existing structure. The bridge is part of a route that has faced congestion and bottleneck issues for years. The governors of Kentucky and Ohio have been working together to petition the federal government for help with the projects.
During his Team Kentucky briefing on Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear said this award is one of the largest in history.
“The federal government had awarded what is believed to be the largest, or one of the largest infrastructure grants in U.S. history to help us rebuild…to help us build a companion bridge for the Brent Spence Corridor.”
Governor Beshear went on to call the grants, which total around $1.635 Billion dollars, will be a “game changer” and will allow Kentucky and Ohio to complete the work without using tolls.
The Kentucky Governor said these improvements and additions will help business flow through the two states.
“So much of our nation’s GDP crosses the Brent Spence Bridge every day and while the bridge is structurally sound, it was not designed for the amount of traffic that it has. In other words, we have so much business going on that travels through there that it needs that companion bridge.”
In a statement, Ohio Governor Mike Dewine said, “Ohio and Kentucky have been discussing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project for almost two decades, and now, we can finally move beyond the talk and get to work.”
Both Kentucky and Ohio will be putting some of their own money towards the project. Officials said the estimated total price tag has grown to around $3.6 Billion dollars due to inflation and rising construction costs.
Work is expected to begin late next year, and officials hope to have it completed by 2029.
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