For years, Covington Mayor Joe Meyer has gone back and forth with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet over how the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will affect the city, and how the city can better position itself to be an integral part of the project.
Meyer said he has fought to make sure Covington doesn’t get the “short end of the stick” in regard to the project.
On Tuesday, the Covington city commission unanimously approved two agreements with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) regarding the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
“This will give Covington a seat at the table,” Meyer said.
Both Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) are between the City of Covington and KYTC.
Meyer gave a presentation to the commission and said that the bridge project is entering a new phase. Meyer said Covington and Cincinnati have both changed dramatically since the first designs for the project were being discussed over 15 years ago.
“Over the past few years, but in the past year in particular, the city has been engaged in intense negotiations with the Transportation Cabinet over the design of the project,” Meyer said. “We’ve been successful in some of our advocacy, unsuccessful in others, and, in others, it remains to be determined.”
Brent Spence Bridge Project National Environmental Policy Act Reevaluation
Some of the major highlights of the first agreement include an information between KYTC and Covington, a $500,000 reimbursement from KYTC for Covington to hire a project manager for the next five years, and a new storm sewer system from Kyles Lane to the Ohio River.
It outlines KYTC’s commitment to the City of Covington to be included in the project through receiving and reviewing important information, as well as providing input to KYTC during the re-evaluation and construction phases of the project.
The contract outlines KYTC providing funding for Covington to hire a full-time Covington project director staff position that will represent the city’s needs and interests regarding the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project. Details about that role and responsibilities are outlined in the second agreement.
Another important item outlined in the contract is the agreement between KYTC and City of Covington to work together in order to address the city’s concerns about the project’s effects on stormwater management. KYTC initiated a study to evaluate the containment measures of stormwater drainage from the interstate.
The construction of a new storm sewer that extends from Kyles Lane to the Willow Run watershed to the Ohio River is the solution mentioned in the agreement. The purpose of a new storm sewer would be to eliminate drainage from I-75 from flowing into Covington’s combined sewer system. The new storm sewer system is thought to help flooding issues in Peaselburg during large storms.
The contract outlines how KYTC and City of Covington will work together to address the impacts the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project construction will have on local traffic. The stipulations proposed will look to minimize the overall negative impact the construction will have on traffic.
One of the solutions outlined in the agreement for future improvements to the intersections of Fourth and Main Streets and Fifth and Main Streets.
Funding for the Lewisburg Facade Grant Programs will be increased to $1.2 million dollars, in an agreement by both KYTC and the City of Covington. The Lewisburg neighborhood is directly to the west of the bridge project.
Funding for Covington Project Director, Brent Spence Corridor Project
The second Memorandum of Understanding allows Covington to hire a full-time Covington project director staff position. It lays out the duties and responsibilities of the new position.
The project director will specifically represent the city’s interests for the next five years on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project and will communicate with KYTC contractors on behalf of Covington.
KYTC will reimburse the City of Covington for $500,000 for costs incurred throughout the process.
The initial term is set to be effective from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027. After the initial term has concluded, the agreement will be automatically renewed for successive one-year terms until work on the project has ceased.
Duties of the project director will be:
- Representing Covington on the Project Advisory Committee and the Project Aesthetics Committee
- Represent Covington at all other project related meetings
- Coordinate and communicate with KYTC regarding the Project reevaluation, development and construction.
- Provide Covington’s input, as appropriate, on key documents, analyses, decisions, etc. This includes the Incident Management Plan, Traffic Management Plan and Maintenance of Traffic Plans
- Coordinate with local businesses, community organizations, neighborhood associations and other community entities to share information, seek input and address concerns
- Serve as the primary, day-to-day point of contact for Covington
