On Dec. 29, 2022, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project was awarded federal funding worth more than $1.6 billion, giving the states the green light to move toward construction of the historic project.
The once-in-a-lifetime competitive funding was made available through the 2021 passage of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was designed to revitalize the nation’s infrastructure and spur its economy. Business, transportation, political, and civic leaders in Ohio and Kentucky came together to advocate for the project regionally and nationally during the grant application process.
The federal grant presents the opportunity to invest in local businesses and a growing workforce by improving safety and travel along one of the most crucial national corridors for commerce and freight: I-71/75. The Brent Spence Bridge is the critical link in an important eight-mile corridor of I-71/75, from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky.
This new funding supports construction of a new companion bridge as well as improvements to the current bridge and the adjoining roadway network. The current bridge is structurally sound and will remain in service for decades to come. This approach was approved in 2012, based on a federally-prescribed evaluation process that included detailed technical and environmental analyses as well as comprehensive public engagement. At the same time, transportation officials in Ohio and Kentucky worked together to ensure the project was shovel-ready and could move forward as soon as the funding was announced.
A LOOK BACK AS WE MOVE FORWARD: FUNDING FACTS
- The anticipated project cost is $3.6 billion, which will be shared by each state. The cost of the companion bridge will be split 50/50 between Ohio and Kentucky, and each state will pay for the approach work on their respective ends of the bridges. The estimates for each state are $2 billion for Ohio and $1.6 billion for Kentucky.
- After Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 28, 2022, the bi-state project team began preparing an application to support the project through the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (Mega) program, which includes funding set aside for projects that are so large that traditional funding and grant mechanisms are not an option. Solidifying the process that will ensure project readiness, the memorandum also directed transportation officials in both states to begin preparing for construction.
- In August of 2022, Gov. Beshear and Gov. DeWine announced that a second federal funding application was submitted by the two states. The new funding request was made to the Bridge Investment Program.
- The Kentucky General Assembly passed, and Gov. Beshear signed a budget bill that included funding to fulfill state match requirements for large projects. Ohio is using a combination of general program funding, bonds, and other programmatic funds to pay for its portion of the project.
In January 2023, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and officials from both states joined President Biden to announce $1.6B in federal funds to make the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project a reality.
To learn more about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public engagement process and how it applies to the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project, click here.
Contractors who are looking for additional information on the procurement process should click here.