Kentucky
Travel Updates

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Short-Term Travel Advisories

Overnight I-71/75 SB Ramp and Lane Closure in Covington

Due to inclement weather on Tuesday, Aug. 11, the scheduled work was postponed to Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Weather permitting, the same traffic impacts listed below will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 12 beginning at 8 p.m. The lane and ramp is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13. If the work is postponed once again due to inclement weather, KYTC will provide an update once the work is rescheduled.

The southbound on-ramp from Crescent Avenue/4^th Street to I-71/75 southbound in Covington and right lane of I-71/75 southbound from mile marker 191.4-192 will close overnight as part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
The southbound on-ramp from Crescent Avenue/4^th Street to I-71/75 southbound in Covington will close Thursday, August 6 beginning at 8 p.m. for temporary pavement work.
Additionally, the right lane of I-71/75 southbound from mile marker 191.4-192 will close.
The ramp and lane are expected to reopen Friday, August 7 by 5 a.m.
The ramp and lane will close again on Sunday, August 9, at 8 p.m. for restriping and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, August 10.
Detour signage will direct on-ramp traffic to 5th Street, right on Main Street, then right on Pike Street to Kyles Lane. I-71/75 southbound off-ramp traffic will be diverted to the right lane of the collector-distributor road to Pike Street.

Long-Term Road Closures

I-71/75 RAMP CLOSURES IN COVINGTON – UPDATED

Beginning on or after Monday, June 8, two I-71/75 ramps in Covington will close long-term as construction advances on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

I-71/75 northbound off-ramp to 12th Street/MLK Jr. Blvd. (0.0 – 0.28 mile points): this closure will remain in place through Summer 2027.
- Detour: Traffic will use the I-71/75 northbound 5th Street exit ramp, turn left (north) onto Philadelphia Street, then left onto 4th Street driving west to the I-71/75 southbound ramp to Pike Street. Turn left on to Pike Street, then right on to Simon Kenton Way, then left on to MLK Blvd.
- Join us for a video ride along of the Northbound 12th Street Detour.

I-71/75 southbound on-ramp from 12th Street/MLK Jr. Blvd. (0.1 – 0.3 mile points): this closure will remain in place through October 2026.
- Detour: Traffic will use Pike St/Dixie Highway (U.S. 25) to Kyles Lane (KY 1072), to I-71/75 southbound.

On June 9th, the Westbound Lane of W. 12th Street was closed. This closure is now in place to ensure safe and efficient travel after KYTC engineers evaluated traffic patterns following the closure of the Interstate 71/75 northbound off-ramp and I-71/75 southbound on-ramp.
Motorists traveling on eastbound W. 12th Street, or southbound on Bullock Avenue, will have access maintained on W. 12th Street eastbound under the I-71/75 overpass until on or after Monday, June 15.

MULTIPLE CLOSURES IN COVINGTON – UPDATED

The traffic impacts listed below were originally scheduled to take place on Monday, June 8. They will now begin on or after Monday, June 15.

Bullock Avenue from Pike Street to the on-ramp for I-71/75 southbound at 12th Street will close. This closure will remain in place through October 2026.
12th Street between Simon Kenton Way and Bullock Avenue will close. This closure will remain in place through substantial project completion expected in 2033.
Simon Kenton Way will be converted to two-way traffic from 12th Street to Pike Street.
A new traffic signal will be installed at Pike Street and Hermes Avenue.

The I-71/75 southbound off-ramp to Fifth Street (KY 8) will remain open while W. Third Street in Covington is blocked to thru traffic. Once W. Third Street reopens, the southbound W. Fifth Street off-ramp, as well as Fifth Street from Crescent Avenue to the I-71/75 northbound exit off-ramp west of Philadelphia Street (6.5 – 6.67 mile points) will close. An updated timeline for the reopening of Covington’s W. Third Street and closure of the I-71/75 southbound off-ramp to W. Fifth Street will be provided at a later date.

Beginning on or after Monday, June 15, two I-71/75 ramps in Covington will close long-term as construction advances on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

West 9th Street Closure in Covington

Beginning Monday, May 4, crews will close W. 9^th Street between Crescent Avenue and Willow Run Road in both directions. This closure will remain in place for the entirety of the project, with substantial completion expected in 2033. Traffic will be detoured via W. Pike Street under I-71/I-75.

Vehicle Detour

At 8 p.m. on Monday, May 4, W. 9^th Street will close in both directions between Crescent Avenue and Willow Run Road.
Traffic traveling from north to south should use Philadelphia Street.
Traffic heading east on Pike Street may take Main Street back to 9^th Street.

Pedestrian Route from Goebel Park

Turn right on Western Avenue to reconnect with W. 9^th Street.
Pedestrians walking from Goebel Park will:
Turn left on W. 9^th Street toward Philadelphia Street
Turn right on Philadelphia Street
Turn right on W. Pike Street
Turn right on Lewis Street

Riverwalk Detour in Covington Begins On or After Monday, May 11

To ensure public safety, a 0.8-mile portion of Covington’s Riverwalk (formerly known as Riverfront Commons Trail) will be temporarily detoured as construction begins on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

On Friday, May 1, crews will close just over a half mile of the trail between Madison Avenue and Wright Street. The ABM Waterfront Parking Lot will also close. The ABM Waterfront Parking Lot is not part of the Riverwalk.

Trail users will be directed to a temporary route along Rivercenter Boulevard, West Third Street and Highway/Crescent Avenue (KY 8).

The closure is needed to support construction of the new companion bridge west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge and to allow crews to safely move materials and equipment through the area. The trail and parking lot will be fully restored and reopened once the new companion bridge is complete, currently anticipated in 2031.

Closure of pedestrian bridge over w. fifth street in covington

As part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, permanent roadway configuration changes will require the closure and future demolition of the pedestrian bridge over northbound I-71/75 at the West Fifth Street off-ramp beginning on or after May 18.

As part of the current construction contract, a new shared-use path will be built to provide better pedestrian and bicyclist connections in Covington. The additional greenspace from the removal of the bridge will be part of an expansion of Goebel Park.

Pedestrian access on W. Fifth Street (KY 8) will be maintained by utilizing the sidewalk on the south side of W. Fifth Street until the I-71/75 northbound exit off-ramp to W. Fifth Street. Pedestrians will cross ahead of the stop signs utilizing the crosswalk prior to the northbound exit off-ramp. Pedestrians can then use the Philadelphia Street crosswalk to access Goebel Park.

The BSBC project team is here to keep you informed about road and lane closures lasting fewer than 30 days, and to recommend detours when needed to help you get where you’re going as quickly and safely as possible.

We know the impact construction can have on travel. It’s our goal to minimize that via timely, reliable traffic information. Dates and times seen on this page are subject to change due to weather and other factors, and emergency closures and delays may occur. Thank you for your patience as we build our city’s future.

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