COVINGTON, Ky. — A "significant travel pattern change" will be put into place on I-71/75 northbound this weekend from Aug. 20-22, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced Wednesday.

Cory Wilson, branch manager for KYTC's District 6 office, said significant delays are expected and drivers should seek an alternate route when possible.

“We expect to finish work on this current phase, which has the two center lanes on the northbound deck closed, about one week early,” said Wilson. “We’re eager to continue progress to this next phase and want the public to be aware of travel delays while this transition takes place."

Below are the planned changes, weather permitting:

• At 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, travel on I-71/75 northbound will be reduced to one lane.
• At the same time on Friday, access to I-75 northbound from the Brent Spence Bridge will be closed. Access to I-75 northbound from the bridge is expected to be closed until Saturday morning, KYTC said. Once work on the western side of the bridge has is complete, crews will reopen access to I-75 northbound and then access to I-71 northbound will be closed. Access to I-71 northbound is expected to be open by noon Saturday.
• During the overnight hours on Friday, from approximately 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., KYTC said there will be rolling roadblocks on I-71/75 northbound. Law enforcement will be in place just south of the bridge in Kentucky and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments to allow crews to set the next traffic pattern on the bridge.
• By noon Saturday, the two left (westernmost) lanes of travel on the northbound deck will be open, and access to I-75 and I-71 will be restored.
• At 10 p.m. Saturday, travel on I-71/75 northbound will again be reduced to one lane. Access to I-75 and I-71 will remain open.
• By 6 a.m. Sunday, the two left lanes of travel on the northbound deck will be open.

KYTC said no changes are planned for the southbound travel lanes. The two right (westernmost) lanes of travel on I-71/75 southbound are open while the two left (easternmost) lanes of travel are closed.

The Brent Spence maintenance project is expected to be complete by Nov. 15, 2021, weather permitting.

“We are more than 70% complete with the maintenance project on the bridge,” said Bob Yeager, chief district engineer of KYTC's District 6 office. “This is a routine project that is part of the normal life cycle of a major structure like the Brent Spence Bridge. Just as you have to perform regular maintenance on your personal property like your car and your home so it stays in good working order, we have to perform regular maintenance on our public infrastructure to ensure it remains safe for long-term use.”

KYTC said that as work progresses, inspectors are onsite daily, inspecting the steel structure.

“We are incredibly pleased by the reports we are receiving from the inspection team who is combing through every inch of the bridge while the maintenance work occurs. They continue to reiterate the structure is sturdy, it is safe, and our maintenance work will ensure it stays that way,” said Yeager.