Brent Spence Bridge Corridor January 26, 2023 eNewsletter
BIG NEWS
GRANT FUNDING COMES THROUGH, PROJECT ADVANCES TOWARD 2023 GROUNDBREAKING

Bipartisanship is emphasized during $1.635 billion grant announcement
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine were among the officials to announce the award of federal funding grants worth more than $1.635 billion for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, giving the landmark bridge and corridor project the green light to move toward construction with no tolls.
Joining the governors to address a crowd of more than 300 at the January 4 announcement in Covington were former Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown along with U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and President Joe Biden, who talked about the bipartisan support for the project.
 
The grant accounts for 98.2 percent of the amount Ohio and Kentucky requested for this vital project that Senator McConnell called "one of the most important infrastructure projects in the country.”
 
“I’m thrilled the time has finally come for us to get the companion bridge built,” Gov. Beshear said. “Funding and constructing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is more than the fulfillment of my administration’s promise – it’s a dream fulfilled for the thousands of travelers who pass through the bustling region every day waiting eagerly for traffic relief to come on this nationally significant corridor. It also shows what’s possible when we prioritize people over politics.”
 
"Throughout the years, good times and bad, when you ask the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and you ask the business community 'what's your number one priority?' in Cincinnati, they came back every single time and said this bridge," Gov. DeWine said.
 
With funding secured, groundbreaking on the project is anticipated for late 2023, with substantial completion slated for 2029.

Project plans call for the construction of a companion bridge to the west of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, as well as improvements to the current bridge and the roadway network that ties into each river crossing. As a result of robust engagement with local partners, there will be enhanced pedestrian access across I-75 in Cincinnati to reconnect downtown with western neighborhoods, and the City of Cincinnati will regain nearly 10 acres of land to develop in the downtown area. In Kentucky, the project will include a new storm sewer system to reduce flooding and improve local roads, including enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities, in the area of the existing and new bridge.
PROJECT TEAM HOLDS NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH MEETINGS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST OHIO NEIGHBORHOODS
More than 400 people attended 16 neighborhood meetings conducted by the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Bi-State team in November and December.

These meetings were designed to share updates with the neighborhoods and to give attendees an opportunity to share their feedback on how the project may affect their neighborhood.

Updates presented at the meetings included:

  • Concept I-W, which designated the companion bridge for through (interstate) traffic and the existing bridge for local traffic, thus reducing the overall bridge width and impacts;
  • Reconfiguring the ramps in downtown Cincinnati to free up 9.5 acres to return to the city for potential development;
  • Reducing the project footprint, which, in turn, reduced residential relocations from more than 40 to 4;
  • Introducing the results of noise wall studies and locations where noise walls are being added, as well as the potential for additional noise walls in Kentucky; and
  • Providing details on the separation of stormwater from combined sanitary sewers.

Responses to comments raised during the neighborhood outreach activities will be posted on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project website under the Public Involvement and Comments section.

Three hearings on the project’s supplemental Environmental Assessment will be conducted this summer. One in-person hearing each will be conducted in Ohio and Kentucky. The third will be a virtual hearing. For more about the supplemental Environmental Assessment, visit the Environmental Process section of the website.
DBE OPPORTUNITIES SHARED AND CONNECTIONS MADE AT INFORMATION SESSION 
The $3.6 billion bipartisan investment in the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (BSBC) Project creates historic opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the region. The project team is committed to building an inclusive, robustly diverse project workforce representative of the rich diversity of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. Ohio and Kentucky are working together to support diverse businesses and workforce development organizations and encourage strong representation throughout the six-year project.

At the first networking session held December 7 by the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee, more than 100 representatives of small, minority, and women-owned businesses attended. The two-part event featured a presentation on the BSBC Project for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) consultants and contractors in the morning followed by one-on-one meetings between the DBE consultants and contractors and prime contractors and firms who work directly with the government and manage subcontractors and consultants.

Speakers for the morning session included representatives from DBE and D&I support teams from both the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the BSBC project team, the U.S. Department of Labor, and more. The group shared:

  • A project overview;
  • DBE reciprocity agreement between ODOT and KYTC;
  • ODOT and KYTC pre-qualification requirements;
  • Overview of the Progressive Design Build model;
  • DBE Supportive Services information; and
  • Overview of U.S. Department of Labor Davis Bacon requirements

“We were very happy with the turnout for the event,” said Tom Arnold, interim capital programs administrator for ODOT. “We’re excited about the many opportunities this project offers for DBE firms, and we’re just getting started in helping them make connections to be able to engage in the project.”

The presentation from the event can be found here. DBE firms interested in more information can visit ODOT’s outreach webpage. 
DRAFT RFP RELEASED; TEAM ENCOURAGING FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Final RFP scheduled to be posted February 17, 2023
The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project team is inviting interested lead contractors to review and provide feedback on the draft instructions to offerors, contract, and technical requirements for the Brent Spence Bridge Project.

The team is providing these drafts to help identify and resolve concerns regarding procurement, terms and conditions, the project's technical requirements, and evaluation/selection criteria. Please visit the Comments and Questions section of the website or send an email to bsbprocurement@dot.ohio.gov with feedback or questions.

These documents will be regularly updated by the team until the announcement of the Final RFP, scheduled for February 17, 2023. Each subsequent release will clearly identify any updates or revisions.

Contractors who are interested in meeting with the team before the final RFP is released can contact bsbprocurement@dot.ohio.gov.
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