Initial construction activity tied to the massive Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is set to begin this summer in Covington, city officials confirmed Tuesday, May 27. One of the first visible signs of progress will be the removal of two residential structures on West 11th and West 12th Streets, scheduled for demolition by August 10.
Covington’s Goebel Park will also undergo significant transformation. The city is currently seeking contractors to dismantle a radio tower within the park’s grounds. Large segments of the infrastructure project will encroach upon the existing park, prompting community efforts to reimagine the space.
Mayor Ron Washington emphasized the city’s commitment to preserving and restoring the park. “We’ve stood up for our community to ensure Goebel Park remains a valuable green space,” he stated. “The state has committed funding to redesign the park’s gateway, helping us move toward a revitalized vision.”
In addition to park changes, traffic improvements are in the pipeline. A roundabout is planned for installation at West 3rd Street and Crescent Avenue, with completion targeted by autumn 2026. During this period, the Riverfront Commons Trail will also be temporarily rerouted, with normal routes expected to resume by summer of the same year.
Utility upgrades are part of the plan as well. Work on critical systems—such as water, sewer, and other utilities—is slated to begin before year’s end.
The broader Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project
The broader Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, priced at $3.6 billion, received the green light to proceed following federal environmental clearance granted earlier this month. On May 10, Governors Mike DeWine of Ohio and Andy Beshear of Kentucky announced that the Federal Highway Administration had concluded its environmental review, allowing the project to transition into the design and construction phases.
“This milestone is essential for improving our nation’s freight logistics,” Gov. DeWine remarked. “The corridor currently ranks among the country’s most problematic bottlenecks for truck traffic. This project will enhance safety and reliability on a route that moves more than $400 billion in goods annually. It’s also a long-overdue fix for daily drivers who’ve endured decades of congestion.”
The project required an updated environmental assessment due to changes in conditions and regulations since the original evaluation received approval in 2012. The supplementary review addressed new environmental standards and site updates.
The Brent Spence Bridge, built in the 1960s, was originally designed for 80,000 vehicles per day. Today, it sees traffic volumes double that number, with around 160,000 vehicles using the corridor daily. I-75, one of the nation’s primary freight routes stretching from Canada to Florida, is central to this strain, affecting both commercial logistics and everyday commutes.
The comprehensive project spans approximately eight miles from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky. A major highlight is the construction of a new bridge adjacent to the existing Brent Spence Bridge, intended to ease congestion. Notably, the entire project will be completed without implementing tolls.
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The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Begins This Summer: Factsheet
Project Overview
Total Cost: $3.6 billion
Scope: 8-mile corridor from Western Hills Viaduct (Ohio) to Dixie Highway (Kentucky)
Status: Federal environmental clearance approved May 10, 2025
Funding: No tolls will be implemented
Key Infrastructure Components
New Bridge Construction: Adjacent to existing Brent Spence Bridge
Traffic Improvements: Roundabout at West 3rd Street and Crescent Avenue (completion by autumn 2026)
Utility Upgrades: Water, sewer, and critical systems (work begins by end of 2025)
Current Bridge
Built: 1960s
Original Design Capacity: 80,000 vehicles per day
Current Daily Traffic: 160,000 vehicles (double design capacity)
Economic Impact: Handles $400+ billion in goods annually via I-75 freight corridor
Covington Impacts & Timeline
Summer 2025
Initial construction activities commence
Demolition of two residential structures on West 11th and 12th Streets (by August 10)
Radio tower removal in Goebel Park
2026: Roundabout completion (autumn)
Riverfront Commons Trail rerouting (normal routes resume by summer)
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