Ohio and Kentucky’s governors announced Wednesday that they submitted a second federal funding application to support bridge and roadway improvements along the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway.
“The time for us to act is now,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “Kentucky and Ohio are working with our partners to ensure we have the funding we need to complete improvements along the Brent Spence Bridge corridor. There is a tremendous sense of urgency surrounding this project because we recognize how important it is for the people we serve. I want us to be able to break ground next year.”
The states are applying to several grant programs in order to have the best chance of receiving maximum funding, Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in the announcement.
Ohio and Kentucky have so far applied for two grants totaling $1.66 billion through the Bridge Investment Program and the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant Program.
Plans call for the construction of a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. Ohio and Kentucky will share the cost of the new bridge equally, and each state will be responsible for the needed work on its side of the river.
“Now, more than ever, our national economy depends on the efficient movement of people, goods, and services on our federal Interstate System,” DeWine said. “The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is long overdue, and our residents deserve to have these highway infrastructure upgrades become a reality. Ohio and Kentucky continue to work closely with our federal partners to secure the funding we need to invest in our future through the transformation of this critical corridor.”
