Brent Spence Bridge Corridor July 28, 2023 eNewsletter
Governors DeWine and Beshear Announce Brent Spence Bridge Design-Build Team
(COVINGTON, Kentucky) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that Walsh Kokosing has been awarded the design-build contract for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. 

The governors made the announcement during a news conference in Covington, Kentucky on July 27. They were joined by officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 
“It's great that Kokosing, an Ohio-based company, will play a pivotal role in the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project,” said Governor DeWine. “Both Kokosing and Walsh have a long history of working with the Ohio Department of Transportation, and I'm confident that we have the best people on both sides of the river to see this project to completion."

As prime contractor, the Walsh Kokosing team will continue to recruit participant companies and workers for the $3.6 billion project, which is one of the most significant infrastructure megaprojects in the nation. Approximately $3.1 billion will be spent on the design-build portion of the project. The remaining $500 million is allocated for improvements on a two-mile stretch of the I-75 corridor north of Linn Street in Cincinnati, including a new interchange for the Western Hills Viaduct.

“Today shows what’s possible when folks from different political parties, different states, and different levels of government all work together to do what’s right for our people,” said Governor Beshear. “With the help of this new design-build team, we are one step closer to building the companion bridge without tolls and providing the many families, communities and businesses that rely on this vital commercial link with new and exciting growth and development opportunities.”

Walsh Kokosing will drive the progressive design-build process, along with AECOM, Parsons, and Jacobs, consisting of some of the most experienced bridge designers, transportation engineers, and highway engineers in the United States.

In its submission, the joint venture also identified WEB Ventures as the diversity, inclusion, and outreach consultant.

The contract addresses six of the corridor’s eight total miles, including five miles of I-71/75 in Kentucky and one mile of I-75 in Ohio. It also includes improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge and the construction of a new companion bridge to its immediate west. Work on the two northernmost miles of the corridor in Ohio will be done under separate contracts.

The primary goals of the project include improving safety and traffic flow and maintaining connections to key regional and national transportation corridors.

"Working in concert with our local partners, we’ve heard loud and clear that they want to ensure this project is not only a benefit to traffic traversing the tri-state, but that it also has a positive impact on those who live here," said ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. “We’ve freed up nearly 10 acres of developable land and remain committed to minimizing the footprint of the project while maximizing the benefits to Cincinnati and the surrounding neighborhoods.”

"This is one of the largest highway construction projects ever undertaken in the United States,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “We are confident that this experienced team, with their solid track record of completing projects approaching this size, possesses the talent, skills, and know-how to deliver this complex bridge and highway system."

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is moving critically needed projects forward in Kentucky, Ohio, and all across the country that will make travel safer, move goods to market more quickly, and improve the daily lives of countless Americans,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “We are proud to invest in the success of this project and partner with Governors Beshear and DeWine as they reach a key milestone on the road to delivering the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project on time, on task, and on budget.”
Stormwater Drainage Improvements Included as Part of Highway Projects in Both Ohio and Kentucky
ODOT and KYTC have committed to improving stormwater runoff issues as part of the highway improvements for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. During heavy rain events, stormwater flows into combined sewer and stormwater systems throughout the region, causing untreated wastewater to flow into creeks and streams. As local water utilities work to address these issues systemically, ODOT and KYTC are working to ensure any highway construction projects address rainwater runoff and prevent it from contributing to the problem.
 
ODOT has been working with the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati to address highway water runoff issues since 2011.
 
"Fixing stormwater drainage issues to reduce overflows into creeks and streams has been a commitment of ours on all I-75 projects for over a decade, and the Brent Spence project is no different," said Stefan Spinosa, Capital Programs Administrator for ODOT, District 8. "Our plans call for the separation of stormwater from the combined sewer overflow system as part of this project along I-75 to help prevent overflows into Mill Creek."
 
In Kentucky, KYTC is working with the City of Covington and Sanitation District No. 1 to construct a new interstate storm sewer system to remove stormwater runoff from the Willow Run combined sewer system. In addition, KYTC will upsize a portion of the combined sewer system that is impacted by the project. These commitments should reduce flooding in the Euclid Avenue area, as well as Goebel Park.
 
"Overall, we'll be removing 467 acres of drainage area from the Willow Run sewer in the Euclid Avenue and West 9th Street basins," said Stacee Hans, KYTC project manager. "Based on modeling we've done, this should greatly reduce overflow and flooding events for this entire region." 
Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Website Design Updated to Prepare for Next Phase of Project 
If you’ve visited the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor website recently, you may have noticed a new look at the top of the site. The project team recently updated its navigation system to make information and resources easier to find. At the same time, the team created several new pages to help move the website into the next phase as the project moves toward construction. For example, pages like Traffic Updates under the News & Updates header will be where the public can find real-time updates on roadwork, detours, and more, while the pages under the Work With Us section will help people find out how to become part of the project workforce. 
 
As always, the project team is interested in your feedback. Let us know what you think of the changes by visiting the project website and click on the “Contact Us” button in the upper right-hand corner.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project team welcomes comments and feedback from the public. To submit a question or comment, visit the project website and click on the “Contact Us” button in the upper right-hand corner.

Responses to all public comments can be viewed on the Public Involvement and Comments section of the website. This section features project exhibits, summaries of outreach activities, and responses to questions posed to the project team during meetings or via email. The document with the responses from all sources is updated monthly.
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