COVINGTON, Ky. — Repairs to Northern Kentucky's Brent Spence Bridge are reaching their conclusion as Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Jim Gray said crews are on schedule to reopen the bridge Wed., Dec. 23.

Crews are pouring the final stretches of concrete this week, a sign that completion of the emergency repair project is fast approaching.

"We’re rounding third and heading for home as crews work tirelessly to reopen the bridge to traffic next Wednesday," Gray said. "We remain on track to return a safe and sound bridge to travelers before the holidays and have plans in place to keep work moving despite winter weather."

The Brent Spence Bridge carries I-71 and I-75 over the Ohio River between Covington, Ky. and Cincinnati, Ohio. The critical corridor of interstate travel has been closed since Nov. 11 due to a fiery collision between two commercial vehicles.

Gray said the final concrete pour for the bridge's upper deck was completed earlier this week, and all new concrete has been cured and tested to ensure it meets all required safety standards.

The bridge's damaged layer on its lower deck — the area that suffered the most damage from the fire — has been removed and is now prepped for a pour of new concrete.

Gray also said repair of the bridge will ensure the long-term viability of the bridge.

“The Brent Spence is safe and there are no plans to replace it,” Gray said. “Conversations regarding the bridge have long been about its capacity, not its condition. We continue to work with our partners at the Ohio Department of Transportation about plans to build a new companion bridge next to the existing bridge.”

When it was first constructed, the Brent Spence Bridge was designed to carry around 100,000 vehicles per day. It now carries twice that volume.

Bryce Shreve is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 KY. He is a recent graduate of Indiana University Southeast and joined the staff in November, 2020.