CINCINNATI, Oh. — Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews worked overnight to remove debris on the Brent Spence Bridge after a crash Wednesday shut it down.. 

What You Need To Know

  • A pair of semi-trucks collided on the Brent Spence Bridge

  • The bridge remains closed Wednesday night

  • No one was hurt in the crash

  • Traffic is being diverted while the bridge is inspected

The debris was removed and representatives from the KYTC, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and four consultant teams took to the bridge do do a walkthrough and begin inspecting the bridge.

Two semi-trucks collided on the lower deck of Brent Spence Bridge around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday causing a fire, according to Lt. Col. Brian Valenti of the Covington Police Department. 

No one was hurt. Covington Police said the fire burned for two hours. Temperatures from the fire reached upwards of 1,500 degrees which paused crews from conducting an inspection. That has since resumed.

"It was later discovered that one of the trucks was transporting a chemical called Potassium Hydroxide which contributed to the heat and duration of the fire. Investigators were able to locate the drivers of both vehicles and there were no injuries. There is no danger to the public from the burning of the Potassium Hydroxide," the department said in a press release.

At 8:45 a.m., all emergency personnel was ordered off the bridge until it's deemed structurally sound. The wreckage remains on the bridge. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reports the bridge is closed to all traffic. Northbound traffic has been diverted to I-275 eastbound to I-471 north. Police say to expect much more traffic on these interstates and to avoid it if possible. Engineers won't be able to begin their inspection until Thursday. 

Covington Mayor Joe Meyer cautions not to add more stress on the adjacent John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge being used as an alternate path.

"You know its already suspect to weight limits and we’ve already seen where people who are trying to find their ways across the river on a more timely basis are using the suspension bridge and disregarding the weight limits so we have to be sure that this incident under the Brent Spence Bridge does not imperil the Roebling Suspension Bridge," Meyer said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear gave a second update Wednesday evening.

"Our transportation cabinet is utilizing unmanned aerial systems equipment to aid the inspection of the structure so that we can do that safely, determine the amount of damage and start to get to work on repairs," Beshear said.

The bridge is closed until after a thorough inspection and the investigation is ongoing. For updates on the situation visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 

The bridge opened in 1963. The initial capacity for the bridge was an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 cars per day. That has doubled in the last five decades.