COVINGTON, Ky. — Southbound traffic will soon be getting easier on the Brent Spence Bridge.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced the reopening schedule to restore full traffic flow across the upper deck of the bridge. 

What You Need To Know

  • KYTC unveiled reopening schedule for the southbound lanes of the Brent Spence Bridge

  • The schedule will depend on the weather

  • Reopening process will begin Saturday, Oct. 30

  • If everything goes as planned, travel should be back to "normal" Wednesday, Nov. 3

A maintenance project to clean and paint the bridge began March 1 and forced the cloture of two lanes across both decks of the bridge. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today announced the reopening schedule that will restore full travel across the southbound (upper) deck of the Brent Spence Bridge, as well as the ramps that provide access to the southbound travel lanes on the bridge.

Bob Yeager, Chief District Engineer of KYTC’s District 6 office said in a news release, “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.”

While crews work to get things back to "normal" drivers need to be aware there will still be significant delays and should use detours whenever possible. 

Depending on the weather, KYTC plans to follow this schedule to reopen southbound travel.

Saturday, Oct. 30 — Sunday, Oct. 31, weather permitting: 

  • Beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, travel will be reduced to one lane on I-75 southbound across the bridge. Only the far left lane will be open. By 5:30 a.m. Sunday, the two left lanes of travel will reopen to traffic.

Sunday, Oct. 31 — Monday, Nov. 1, weather permitting: 

  • Beginning at 10 p.m., Sunday night, travel will be reduced to one lane on I-75 southbound across the bridge. Only the far left lane will be open.
  • In addition, between midnight and 5 a.m., rolling roadblocks will be put into place on I-75 southbound. Law enforcement officers will be in place just north of the bridge on I-75 southbound and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments. Travel delays are likely, and drivers should use an alternate route, if possible.
  • Also, overnight, crews will open the ramp that provides access to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati.

By 6 a.m., Monday morning, the following travel pattern will be in place:

  • All four lanes of travel will be open on the southbound deck of the Brent Spence Bridge.
  • The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati will be open.
  • Access to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way will remain closed.

Tuesday, Nov. 2 — Wednesday, Nov. 3, weather permitting: 

  • Beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday, various lane closures will be put into place on I-71 southbound in Ohio between the Reading Rd. exit and the I-471 exit. All lanes of travel will be open by 6 a.m.
  • In addition, between 10 p.m., Tuesday night and 6 a.m., Wednesday morning, rolling roadblocks will be put into place on I-71 southbound in Ohio. Law enforcement officers will be in place at the Reading Rd. exit and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments. Travel delays are likely, and drivers should use an alternate route, if possible.
  • Also, at approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday, crews will reopen the on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way. Following that, the ramp from I-71 southbound to I-471 will be closed. The I-471 ramp will reopen to traffic by 6 a.m., Wednesday morning.

By 6 a.m. Wednesday, all southbound traffic impacts related to the Brent Spence Bridge Maintenance Project will be removed and southbound traffic will be restored to its original configuration. 

  • All four lanes of travel will be open on the southbound deck of the Brent Spence Bridge.
  • The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from 3rd in Downtown Cincinnati will be open.
  • The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way will be open. 

The northbound reopening schedule is expected to be announced next week.

KYTC said more than 35,000 gallons of paint were used to cover more than 1.5 million square feet of surface. Following KYTC standards the bridge was painted gray. Road crews also completed maintenance including drainage work, sign repair and replaced interstate emblems on the roadway. 

Related Stories