Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Update

Brent Spence Bridge Corridor February 28, 2023 eNewsletter

Project Team Releases Request for Proposals (RFP) Feb. 17 as Project Marches Forward

Just one month after announcing the $1.635 billion in federal funding secured for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (BSBC) Project, the team released the Request for Proposals (RFP) to select the design-build team to complete the project. As one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the nation, the BSBC Project brings with it tremendous opportunity and economic impact for the region.

This contract addresses six of the corridor’s eight miles: five miles of the I-71/75 corridor in Kentucky and one mile of I-75 in Ohio. It includes improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge and a new companion bridge being built to the west. Work on the two northernmost sections of the corridor in Ohio will be done under separate contracts.

“Just a month ago, we celebrated a historic $1.635 billion in federal grant funding to build the new bridge crossing over the Ohio River and improve the entire Brent Spence Bridge Corridor with no tolls,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “This is a huge milestone that gets us one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of thousands of travelers by providing traffic relief, increased safety, and a boost to our nation’s commerce.”

“When I’ve asked people in southwest Ohio what issues need to be addressed, for many, many years the Brent Spence Bridge has consistently been at the top of the list,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “Today, we’re closer than ever to beginning work on this transformational project.”

Responses to the RFP are due March 31, 2023. The schedule calls for the design-build team to be selected in May, allowing for planning to take place immediately and initial construction work to begin before the year’s end.

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Details Goals and Initiatives at Quarterly Meeting

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project’s Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Committee works together to collaborate, coordinate, and communicate information related to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) goals, initiatives, and requirements encouraging diversity and inclusion and workforce development. Made up of more than 25 representatives from business groups, local chambers of commerce, governments, and elected officials, the D&I Committee convened virtually for its quarterly meeting on January 25.

Members heard from project team representatives on topics including updated project goals, the recent federal grant announcement, ongoing public outreach efforts, and the Progressive Design-Build concept and schedule. Lauren Purdy, Deputy Director of the Division of Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion for ODOT, outlined the technical requirements for the project’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach Plan, explaining the role of the D&I manager, the project’s plans for DBE performance, workforce development, and compliance.

The project’s DBE and on-the-job training (OJT) goals were shared by KYTC’s Melvin Bynes, Executive Director for the Office of Civil Rights at KYTC, who also reviewed the methodology used to develop those goals. Independent consultant BBC Research and Consulting, a 50-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, conducted an in-depth analysis using proven and statistically valid census methodology to determine DBE availability within the geographic market, which was a central part of determining the project goals.

The meeting concluded with an open discussion centered on members’ ideas and recommendations for how the project team can support workforce development and help get individuals job ready in the near future. The project team also launched a new website page to assist those seeking opportunities to work on the project.

The full presentation from the quarterly meeting can be found here.

A follow-up meeting was conducted Feb. 6, enabling BBC to answer additional questions and provide additional details about the DBE goal methodology.

The D&I Committee will host its second DBE Networking Event from noon-4 p.m., March 7 at the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront in Covington, KY. Register here, and click on the image for more information.

BSBC Aesthetics Committee Quarterly Meeting Held

The Aesthetics Committee was created as a sub-group of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (BSBC) Project Advisory Committee to provide input on the design and aesthetic appearance of the new companion bridge and related roadway corridor. Comprised of representatives from a dozen regional organizations, the committee helps evaluate and provides guidance on design goals and aesthetic treatments such as structure type, corridor theme, lighting, landscaping, and more. The broader committee also is divided into subcommittees to support the different aesthetic treatments in specific areas in the corridor.

The BSBC project team met with the full Aesthetics Committee on January 31 to provide an update on project initiatives and an overview of the progressive design-build process. Updates included the design-build RFP schedule and process for selecting a design-build team, as well as expected construction timelines.

The committee also reviewed and discussed its overall role in the design process, including a briefing on the potential design of the arch and cable-stayed options for the new companion bridge. Once selected, the progressive design-build team will recommend an option. That recommendation will be presented to the committee for feedback on design elements such as color, pattern, and lighting.

An additional meeting was held for the Ohio subcommittee. The group reviewed the aesthetics design checklist that the project team developed with the City of Cincinnati in 2022 to ensure project aesthetics blend seamlessly with the City’s design standards, including landscaping, lighting, signals, concrete elements, signage, and sidewalks.

The next round of Aesthetics Committee meetings will be conducted before this summer’s supplemental environmental assessment hearings.

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 summaries of responses to questions posed to the project team during meetings or via email. The document with the summary of responses from all sources is updated monthly.

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