The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (BSBC) project is designed to improve approximately 8 miles of Interstates 71 and 75 through Kentucky and Ohio, including the addition of a new companion bridge to the existing Brent Spence Bridge to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and safety, and maintain key regional and national transportation corridors.

KENTUCKY IMPROVEMENTS

Widening and reconstructing approximately five miles of I-71/75 from the Dixie Highway interchange to the Ohio River will help ease congestion, improve safety, and separate interstate through traffic from local traffic on the approach to the Brent Spence and new companion bridge over the Ohio River. This new traffic pattern near the entrance to the bridge will help prevent weaving on the highway for drivers to get in the appropriate lane to continue north.

In addition, a new collector-distributor system – a local roadway network which helps traffic move more efficiently between the local roads and the interstates – will be built from 12th Street North and between Dixie Highway and Kyles Lane. This system streamlines the number of access points on and off the highway, which helps improve traffic flow and reduce high-speed crashes on the interstate.

Additionally, the project calls for the separation of stormwater runoff from the interstate roadway within the Willow Run combined sanitary system to reduce flooding. Working with local communities, the project team has also included enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities in Covington near the existing and new bridges. Aesthetic enhancements, such as decorative treatments on bridges and walls and new lighting offers improved visibility and potential gateways for communities along the corridor.

MITIGATION & ENHANCEMENTS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY

The project will bring the community together with improved pedestrian and bicycle connections across I-71/75. Improvements to pedestrian and bike access are part of the plans, including new shared-use paths along local roadways and in Goebel Park. Overall, the plan will result in improved connections to local destinations on both sides of the Ohio River.

In addition, heavy rains currently cause flooding to occur in Goebel Park and local residents’ homes in the Euclid Avenue area due to highway stormwater runoff flowing into the combined sewer system.  KYTC is working with the City of Covington along with Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky to ensure highway stormwater runoff will be separated from the combined sewer system as part of this project to reduce overflow events and flooding.

In May 2024, the BSBC project team announced three innovative refinements for the project area. The recommended design refinements meet or exceed the contract objectives of improving quality, reducing costs, shortening schedule, improving safety and/or supporting local communities. To view the design innovations, click here.

PROJECT PHASES

The project will be built in three phases. Beginning with the north end of the project, Phases I and II take place in Ohio. Phase III in blue began in 2023 and includes the improvements in Kentucky and Ohio.

Key elements of the project plan in Kentucky include:

  • Reconstructing and widening I-75 within the project area (approximately 5 miles in Kentucky);
  • Extending northbound frontage roads connecting West 5th Street and Pike Street;
  • Extending southbound frontage roads connecting West 4th Street and Pike Street;
  • Constructing a collector-distributor system – a network of roads to help traffic move more efficiently between the local roads and the interstates – between West 12th Street in Kentucky and Ezzard Charles Drive in Ohio; and
  • Ensuring a collector-distributor road system will handle entering and exiting traffic between Dixie Highway and Kyles Lane to reduce the need for traffic to weave between ramps and the through lanes on the interstate.