OVERVIEW
The BSBC Project will transform an eight-mile portion of the I-71/75 interstate corridor between Kentucky and Ohio. This once-in-a-generation opportunity will improve quality of life for the millions of Americans who use the federal highway system in this region and beyond. It also presents the opportunity to invest in local businesses and grow our workforce while improving safety and travel along one of the nation’s most important corridors for commerce and freight.
PURPOSE AND NEED
- Improving traffic flow and level of service
- Improving safety
- Correcting geometric deficiencies (such as narrow shoulders)
- Maintaining connections to key regional and national transportation corridors
LOCATION AND PROJECT COMPONENTS
Stretching from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the project includes a new companion bridge immediately to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, which is structurally sound and will remain in service for decades to come. The Brent Spence Bridge will be restriped to three lanes instead of four to improve safety and carry only local traffic.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT COST
The current estimated cost is $3.6 billion, which was developed during the federal grant application process. As the project moves through the design phase toward construction, costs will be confirmed or adjusted.
The cost of the companion bridge and updates to the existing bridge will be split 50/50 by Ohio and Kentucky, with each paying for the approach work occurring in their respective state.
TIMELINE
Early construction work is anticipated to begin in 2025. The project team is working through the detailed design and schedule and expects to have an update later in 2025.
DESIGN-BUILD TEAM
Walsh Kokosing Joint Venture is the lead design-build team (DBT) contractor for the BSBC Design-Build Project. AECOM is the lead designer, Jacobs is the Independent Companion Bridge Engineer, and Parsons is the independent design quality firm. The project is being managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
BUSINESS AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES
The project will need an estimated six million hours worked by nearly 700 tradespeople creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a career or grow a local business.
Bidding opportunities will be updated regularly on the Walsh Kokosing DBT website here. Upcoming workforce and business education events will be updated on the project website here.
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
The project includes a number of features and enhancements that will improve travel and safety throughout the corridor, as well as provide benefits to local communities:
- The existing Brent Spence Bridge will be reduced from four lanes to three and the shoulders will be re-established. Interstate and local traffic will be separated. The new companion structure will carry I-71/75 traffic. Local traffic will use the existing Brent Spence Bridge, which will greatly reduce traffic weaving on the approaches to the bridges and improve safety. This will also improve access to the Covington and Cincinnati business districts.
- Cincinnati and western neighborhoods will be better connected with new or improved bike and pedestrian paths on local streets that cross I-71/I-75.
- Both states will address stormwater runoff from the highway as part of this project to reduce flooding and combined sewer overflows.
- Noise walls will be built in multiple locations to reduce sound levels throughout the corridor.
- The project will fund measures to offset impacts and add amenities in parks in Kentucky and Ohio.