Brent Spence Bridge Corridor February 28, 2025 eNewsletter

At first, Marlene Purdie was skeptical about whether she could successfully bid for the contract to provide janitorial services at the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor (BSBC) Project offices.



“I wondered, as a small business owner, how can I compete for a government opportunity like this,” said Purdie, president and owner of Purdie Cleaning, a nine-person business specializing in commercial office, warehouse, health care and final construction cleaning since 2013.

When directed to the Walsh Kokosing website for contracting opportunities, Purdie carefully followed the application process, submitting all the required information. 

A Walsh Kokosing representative later informed Purdie her firm was awarded the contract. “We were not only the lowest bidder, but in my estimation, we were the best overall value,” Purdie said. "Our bid reflected our ability to deliver high-quality cleaning services efficiently while maintaining reliability and adherence to industry standards.”



“The process was much easier than I expected,” Purdie said. “I was pleasantly surprised.”

LOCAL FIRMS MARKET SERVICES TO PRIME CONTRACTOR

Local small minority- and women-owned firms recently met one-on-one with Walsh Kokosing, the prime contractor for the BSBC Project, to market their heavy highway construction capabilities.

The event at the Radisson Hotel in Covington, Ky., was one in a series of networking and matchmaking meetings conducted by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to highlight projects in Hamilton County. A project on the Mill Creek Expressway was also featured at the meeting.

“These meetings provide an excellent opportunity to discuss potential collaborations with local businesses,” said Toni Perry Gillispie, Southwest regional outreach manager for ODOT.

A DAY OF STEEL AND VISION: FEBRUARY 12, 1963

On a brisk February day in 1963, two monumental projects were taking shape along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. This month's throwback image, looking southeast from the shore on the Ohio side, shows the steel structure rising at Pier No. 2 for what would become the Brent Spence Bridge. The photo was taken by Cincinnati's Brand Studios.

On that same day, 350 miles to the west, another crew of dedicated workers was making history. In St. Louis, the first triangular section was being positioned, marking Day One of construction for the Gateway Arch, creating what would become the world's tallest arch at 630 feet.



These parallel stories of American ingenuity – one connecting states, the other reaching skyward – remind us that February 12, 1963, wasn't just another winter day. Both projects represented significant achievements in American engineering and infrastructure.

TRUCKING COMPANIES MEET & GREET SET FOR MARCH 13

The BSBC Project team will host a meet and greet for trucking companies interested in working on the project on Thursday, March 13. The event will be held from 9-11 a.m. at Longworth Hall (700 W. Pete Rose Way, Ste. 127, Cincinnati). Attendees can expect to learn about trucking opportunities with the project, to meet the project team and ask questions, and to network with other trucking industry professionals. Learn more and RSVP here. 

RIVERFRONT COMMONS TRAIL COMMENT PERIOD ENDS

The comment period for the proposed temporary detour and construction along the Riverfront Commons Trail wrapped up on February 23. The BSBC Project team extends its thanks to all who took the time to comment. Comments are under review and responses will be posted in the BSBC website Document Center upon completion.

Stretching from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the estimated $3.6 billion project will be built without tolls and transform an eight-mile portion of the I-71/75 interstate corridor, including a companion bridge immediately to the west of the existing bridge. More information about the project is available at BrentSpenceBridgeCorridor.com.