Brent Spence Bridge Reopening Schedule Announced

The southbound lanes will be opened up first.

Shutterstock photo.

(Covington, Ky.) – Motorists who frequently travel across the Brent Spence Bridge got good news on Friday.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today the reopening scheduled that will restore full travel across the southbound (upper) deck of the Brent Spence Bridge, as well as the ramps that provide access to the southbound travel lanes.

A routine maintenance project to clean and paint the bridge began on March 1 requiring the closure of two lanes of travel on both decks of the bridge.

More than 35,000 gallons of paint were used to cover more than 1.5 million square feet of surface area. In addition to cleaning and painting, crews completed other routine maintenance tasks, including drainage work, signage repairs, and replacing interstate emblems on the roadway surface.

Chief District Engineer Bob Yeager say significant delays are expected on the bridge as crews will continue working to restore southbound traffic to its original configuration.

KYTC released the following weather-dependent schedule for the reopening of southbound travel:

Saturday, Oct. 30 – Sunday, Oct. 31, weather permitting:

• Beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday night, travel will be reduced to a single lane on I-75 southbound across the bridge. Only the far left lane will be open. By 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning, the two left lanes of travel will reopen to traffic.

Sunday, Oct. 31 – Monday, Nov. 1, weather permitting:

• Beginning at 10 p.m., Sunday night, travel will be reduced to a single lane on I-75 southbound across the bridge. Only the far left lane will be open.
• In addition, between midnight and 5 a.m., rolling roadblocks will be put into place on I-75 southbound. Law enforcement officers will be in place just north of the bridge on I-75 southbound and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments. Travel delays are likely, and drivers should use an alternate route, if possible.
• Also, overnight, crews will open the ramp that provides access to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati.

By 6 a.m., Monday morning, the following travel pattern will be in place:

• All four lanes of travel will be OPEN on the southbound deck of the Brent Spence Bridge.
• The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati will be OPEN.
• Access to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way will remain CLOSED.

Tuesday, Nov. 2 – Wednesday, Nov. 3, weather permitting:

• Beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday night, various lane closures will be put into place on I-71 southbound in Ohio between the Reading Rd. exit and the I-471 exit. All lanes of travel will be open by 6 a.m.
• In addition, between 10 p.m., Tuesday night and 6 a.m., Wednesday morning, rolling roadblocks will be put into place on I-71 southbound in Ohio. Law enforcement officers will be in place at the Reading Rd. exit and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments. Travel delays are likely, and drivers should use an alternate route, if possible.
• Also, at approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday night, crews will reopen the on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way. Following that, the ramp from I-71 southbound to I-471 will be CLOSED. The I-471 ramp will reopen to traffic by 6 a.m., Wednesday morning.

By 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, all southbound traffic impacts related to the Brent Spence Bridge Maintenance Project will be removed and southbound traffic will be restored to its original configuration.

• All four lanes of travel will be OPEN on the southbound deck of the Brent Spence Bridge.
• The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati will be OPEN.
• The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way will be OPEN.  

The northbound reopening schedule is expected to be announced next week.