Brent Spence Bridge Corridor January 26, 2024 eNewsletter |
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BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CORRIDOR PROJECT MARKS ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE WITH RELEASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
Five Public Hearings Set in Ohio, Kentucky and Online to Seek Feedback
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Another major milestone toward making the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project a reality has been marked, thanks to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) approval of the Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for public review. Members of the public can view and comment on the document online at www.PublicInput.com/bsbc, or in print at the Kenton County Public Library in Covington and the West End Branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (see addresses below).
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The required SEA addresses a number of updates since the project's original environmental assessment was approved in 2012. That includes updated regulatory requirements, changed site conditions, design refinements, impact changes (mostly reductions) and additional environmental commitments. The document addresses the environmental impacts of the project's base design, not any additional refinements under consideration. |
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PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO
ATTEND PUBLIC HEARINGS IN FEBRUARY
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As part of the environmental process, members of the public are encouraged to attend and provide feedback at any of five planned public hearings.
The purpose of the upcoming public hearings is to present project information and allow members of the public to provide comments on the SEA. During each hearing, participants may browse project exhibits, review project information, talk one-on-one with project team members, and provide a written or verbal comment about the project.
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Public Hearing Schedule
(Two hearings are offered each in-person day)
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In-Person, Tuesday, Feb. 20
Noon to 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Radisson Hotel
668 W. Fifth St.
Covington, KY 41011
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In-Person, Wednesday, Feb. 21
Noon to 3:30 p.m. | 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Longworth Hall Event Center
700 W. Pete Rose Way, Lobby C
Cincinnati, OH 45203
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Virtual, Thursday, Feb. 22
Virtual Hearing
5:30 to 7 p.m.
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View and comment on the document in print at:
Kenton County Public Library - Covington
502 Scott St.
Covington, KY 41011
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library - West End
805 Ezzard Charles Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45203
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Each meeting will include a formal presentation about the project and its assessment. For the in-person meetings, the presentation will begin one hour after the meeting’s start. The same information will be presented at each hearing in Ohio, Kentucky and online.
Afterward, attendees will have an opportunity to make comments at a microphone, addressing the project team from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). All comments will be transcribed and recorded into the project’s public record. Anyone wishing to speak at an in-person hearing is asked to register in advance when arriving at the hearing. Comments will be limited to two minutes. No responses to comments will be provided at the hearing; the project team will respond in writing to all comments at a later date.
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WORKSHOP OUTLINES HOW
TO EARN DBE CERTIFICATION
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To encourage Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) companies to pursue opportunities with ODOT, the agency is teaming with the Hamilton County Small Business Development Center to conduct a workshop on how minority and women-owned businesses can obtain DBE certification.
The workshop will also provide information on how to receive business development services from the small business development center, including business plan development, marketing strategies, technical assistance, loan packaging assistance and more.
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 30
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Address: 3539 Reading Road, Suite 100 | Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
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INTRODUCING "COMMUNITY VOICES" VIDEO SERIES
Region's Leaders Speak Out on the Transformative Impact of the Project
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The project team is excited to announce the launch of a new video series titled "Community Voices," featuring insights and perspectives on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project from local leaders across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
In the first two videos, Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann and Mark Policinski, CEO of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI), share their thoughts on what this major infrastructure project means for the region.
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Judge Knochelmann highlights the tremendous career opportunities the project will bring, from construction jobs to professional services: "The job opportunities with the project, from welders to concrete and more, means everybody is going to be needed," he says. "It's a great opportunity to have people working here, earning here, and then hopefully building a career here. It's going to be wonderful for everybody in the region." |
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Policinski emphasizes the project's far-reaching impact beyond infrastructure: "When it comes to an impact, this is not just a project that is steel and concrete. This is a project that's going to affect our environment, our health, our safety and our economics, which means it's going to affect our quality of life." |
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Stay tuned as we continue rolling out this video series over the coming months, sharing perspectives from community members on both sides of the river as this historic project advances. |
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS |
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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. You can also contact the Design-Build team directly about job opportunities at WalshKokosingBrentSpence@walshgroup.com, or visit their website.
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 comments submitted to the project team.
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Stretching from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the $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. A video outlining last year’s progress can be viewed here.
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There are several ways to stay connected with the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. |
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© 2022 Brent Spence Bridge Corridor. All Rights Reserved. |
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