COVINGTON, Ky. — While Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed March 26, bridge safety has long been a topic of discussion in Northern Kentucky, where the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is close to being underway.

What You Need To Know

  • A cargo ship slammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge March 26, but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) said the Brent Spence Bridge is "safe and sound" 

  • The cabinet said while rivers and waterways carry barges and ships, they are not comparable to the size of an international cargo ship 

  • KYTC added if a vessel strike were to occur, its engineers would take an abundance of caution 

  • The bridge has been open for more than 60 years 

Vivian Rusche didn’t always think about the Brent Spence Bridge much. But she knew that according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the bridge carries double the amount of daily traffic it was originally built for back in 1963.

“I always avoided it before I lived in Covington myself," Rusche said. "I would go around and use other bridges just for that sake. I feel that people feel scared driving over that bridge.”

Now, Rusche lives in Covington and still has some concerns, but for different reasons.

“For some reason, the current improvements made me feel safer; at least it was going to hold our weight," she said. "I travel the bridge every day."

"Sometimes, I feel unsafe because traffic is going so fast, and you have to get over to the right lane for those exits. Sometimes, it’s horrible because traffic is so slow that you have to re-route yourself and just avoid the bridge altogether.”

After a cargo ship slammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the span to collapse and result in several deaths, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) sent Spectrum News 1 the following statement: 

"Ensuring Kentuckians are safe is a top priority of the administration. The Transportation Cabinet prioritizes bridge safety and takes a rigorous approach to design and maintain state-owned bridges. The Brent Spence Bridge is safe and sound. While our rivers and waterways carry barges and ships, they are not comparable to the size of an international cargo ship, and a bridge incident similar to what occurred in Baltimore is less likely to happen in our waterways."

"The cargo ship size in the Baltimore incident can weigh as much as 95,000 tons – 30 times larger than the largest barges on our rivers, which are 3,000 tons and most commonly 1,500 tons. Also, barges are not as tall as cargo ships."

"If a vessel strike were to occur, our engineers would take an abundance of caution. We inspect every critical element of a bridge before allowing workers or traffic to return to the bridge. In developing newer bridges on navigable waterways, designers ensure piers are protected and are located away from navigational channels. Designers also design piers and pier protection to survive impacts from the largest vessels using those waterways."

"The Brent Spence Bridge is scheduled to be inspected this September. These inspections are performed to ensure the bridge is maintained for the hundreds of thousands of motorists that use it every day. A section of the Brent Spence Bridge underwent emergency repairs due to fire damage in late 2020 and only after a thorough inspection and repair process was the bridge safely reopened to traffic. A scheduled maintenance and painting project on the Brent Spence Bridge occurred in 2021 as part of a normal lifecycle for a major structure to ensure it remains safe for long-term use."

Over several years, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project will bring improvements to the existing bridge and construct a new companion bridge to lighten the traffic load. Rusche said she thinks they will be worth it even if they cause some traffic headaches.

Related Stories