Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated the Brent Spence Corridor Project received federal funding in addition to a previously awarded $1.6 billion.
The project is not getting additional funding beyond the $1.6 billion President Joe Biden announced in January.
During an interview with Spectrum News 1 on Feb. 1, the USDOT deputy secretary on said "in addition to," but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on Feb. 2 informed Spectrum News 1, "that isn't strictly correct."
Deputy Executive Director of KYTC, Chuck Wolfe, told Spectrum News 1, KYTC applied for funding from two different sources, the Bridge Investment Act and the National Infrastructure Project Assistance Program. The Brent Spence Project received money from both, and the total is $1.6 billion. In January, the president announced the total award. The Department of Transportation announced one portion of the award last week, which led to Spectrum News 1 reporting additional funds were headed to the Brent Spence project. (Feb. 7, 2023)
COVINGTON, Ky. — This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced details about federal funding heading to northern Kentucky as part of a new Mega Grant program.
It’s for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. This is part of the $1.6 billion the Biden administration announced in January.
U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg said the Biden administration recently awarded $250 million for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.
“The Brent Spence Bridge is such an important project, we decided in addition to the bridge announcement that the president made in January, to put in this additional $250 million resources,” Trottenberg said. “And I know working with the governors and the local communities, these are going to be the dollars you’re going to need to see this project to completion.”
USDOT said over $400 billion in freight movement crosses the Brent Spence Bridge annually, and they estimate that to grow to over $800 billion by 2030.
“This is a bridge that carries an enormous amount of traffic, and is very important economic connection in the country. The dollars are going to be used to build a new bridge and rehabilitate the old bridge, improve the capacity and functionality of the crossing and continue again, I think, to contribute to mobility and freight movement nationwide,” Trottenberg said.
The project calls for a new companion bridge. It will distribute traffic on both bridges, reducing the weaving and merging of drivers as well as preventing over 150 crashes yearly.
“This has been a president who has been a big booster in investing in American infrastructure and I might add very enthusiastic to make sure that American workers and American suppliers have a part in making sure that these projects get built,” Trottenberg said.
Last month, President Biden visited northern Kentucky to tout the $1.6 billion investment in the region for the project.
“I think he came in the door knowing that we’ve had decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure system,” Trottenberg said. “And yeah, we get bad grades on a lot of American infrastructure, but with the resources that we’re putting into the Brent Spence Bridge and projects all across the country, we’re going to be able to bring those infrastructure facilities up to a state of good repair again.”
The department also said construction of the companion bridge will significantly support emergency and disaster preparedness.
USDOT said the Brent Spence Bridge corridor project is one of nine national projects selected for this first year of the mega grant program.