Major construction is officially underway on the $4.05 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project following a groundbreaking ceremony held on May 8, 2026, marking the start of one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects currently under construction in the United States.

 

The long-planned project will deliver a new companion bridge alongside the existing Brent Spence Bridge and reconstruct key sections of the Interstate 71/75 corridor between Cincinnati and Covington. The development aims to reduce congestion, improve safety and strengthen freight movement across one of the nation’s busiest commercial transportation corridors.

 

The official groundbreaking took place on the Cincinnati side of the Ohio River near the Duke Energy Substation beneath the bridge on Mehring Way. Attendees included Mike DeWine, Andy Beshear, Mitch McConnell, Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster, transportation leaders from the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, as well as members of the Cincinnati delegation and other regional dignitaries.

Phase 1

The first phase of construction focuses on building a new double-deck companion bridge immediately west of the existing 1963-era Brent Spence Bridge, along with approximately one mile of highway improvements in both Ohio and Kentucky. Once completed, interstate traffic will shift onto the new structure while the existing bridge undergoes rehabilitation and reconfiguration for local traffic between Cincinnati and Covington.

 

Heavy construction activities are beginning immediately, with the companion bridge expected to open in 2031 and the broader corridor project substantially completed by 2033.

 

The corridor project spans roughly eight miles of Interstate 71 and Interstate 75, extending from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky. Crews will restripe the existing Brent Spence Bridge from four lanes to three lanes in each direction as part of broader safety improvements and traffic separation measures.

Project team

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet jointly manage the project through a bi-state management team. The Walsh Kokosing Joint Venture, consisting of Walsh Construction and Kokosing Construction, serves as the lead design-build contractor. Project design partners include AECOM, Jacobs, and Parsons Corporation.

 

Officials estimate the $4.05 billion construction cost reflects continued inflation in labor, materials and construction services over recent years. According to the Federal Highway Administration’s National Highway Construction Cost Index, highway construction costs across the United States increased by 61% between 2020 and 2025.

 

Funding for the project will come from state and federal sources without tolls. Kentucky’s share of the current construction phase totals approximately $1.7 billion.

Jobs

The development is expected to generate approximately 6 million labor hours and employ between 700 and 1,000 skilled tradespeople during peak construction activity, with wages starting at roughly $30 per hour.

 

Construction work will begin creating significant traffic impacts later this month. In Kentucky, closures and detours will affect multiple Covington ramps, sewer and waterline reconstruction on 3rd Street and portions of the Riverfront Commons Trail. In Ohio, temporary ramp realignments and reconstruction work will affect sections of Interstate 75, Interstate 71 and U.S. Highway 50 near downtown Cincinnati.

Traffic disruptions

Among the first major disruptions, crews will close the southbound I-71/75 on-ramp from Bullock Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on or after May 20, 2026, through late October 2026. Officials also plan to keep the northbound exit ramp to 12th Street, MLK Jr. Boulevard and Pike Street closed into summer 2027.

 

Additional work planned for the Ohio side includes reconstruction of ramps and bridges along Interstate 75 from Second Street north to Ninth Street, including connections to Gest Street and Central Avenue. A temporary realignment of several downtown Cincinnati ramps is also planned during the early stages of construction.

 

On the Kentucky side, crews will begin utility relocation work, stormwater and sewer system separation projects in coordination with the city of Covington and Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky, as well as tree clearing operations and closures along portions of the Riverfront Commons Trail.

 

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project has been discussed for decades and is widely regarded as one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the Ohio-Kentucky region in recent history.

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project joins a growing pipeline of major U.S. bridge investments aimed at improving interstate mobility and freight efficiency. One comparable effort is the $800M+ Kings’ Crossing Bridge project, which will connect Texas and Louisiana, reflecting similar priorities in expanding capacity and modernizing critical river crossings.

Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project: Factsheet

• Total Project Cost: $4.05 billion.
• Total Corridor Length: 8 miles (from Western Hills Viaduct, OH to Dixie Highway, KY).
• New Companion Bridge: Double-decked structure built immediately west of the current bridge.
• Existing Bridge Changes: Reduced from four lanes to three in each direction for local traffic only.
• Groundbreaking Date: May 8, 2026.
• Companion Bridge Opening: 2031.
• Final Completion Date: 2033.
• Funding Source: Federal grants ($1.6B) and state funds from Ohio and Kentucky.
• Tolling Status: No tolls will be implemented.
• Major Partners: ODOT, KYTC, FHWA, and Walsh Kokosing Joint Venture.
• Workforce Impact: 6 million work hours; 700–1,000 tradespeople at peak construction.
• Land Use: Reclaims 11 acres of land in downtown Cincinnati for development.
• Traffic Volume: Aiming to alleviate congestion for over 160,000 vehicles daily.
• Next Milestone: Major ramp and lane closures begin May 20, 2026.