Brent Spence Bridge Corridor December 20, 2024 eNewsletter

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project enjoyed a noteworthy year.

Following a series of public hearings in Kentucky and Ohio, the Federal Highway Administration issued its environmental approval, allowing the project to advance to the detailed design stage.

In addition, officials announced seven innovations to the design that were a direct result of engineering evaluations and public comment. The innovations include a new street grid reconnecting downtown Cincinnati to Queensgate and reduced impacts to Goebel Park in Covington.

Project managers, meanwhile, launched a series of meetings and open house sessions designed to engage disadvantaged and small businesses in the project. That’s in addition to supporting a pre-apprenticeship program that is filling the region’s construction trades pipeline.

In the field, engineers developed a highly detailed, three-dimensional map of the Brent Spence Bridge using lasers that take measurements millions of times a second. In addition, technicians began the process of locating underground utilities in the project’s footprint to prevent disrupting them during construction and to determine which ones need to be relocated. Both are critical steps for advancing the design which is currently 30 percent complete.

See the BSBC Year in Review here.

WALSH KOKOSING HOSTS QUALITY WEEK

Walsh Kokosing observed Walsh Construction’s 7^th annual Quality Week in November, a yearly time of reflection, reinvigoration and renewed focus on improvement.

Quality Week serves as an additional platform to provide training and continued education for employees across all Walsh projects and offices. Throughout the week, project teams and regional offices held events to showcase their passion and the services they’re providing to customers.

This year, the Walsh Kokosing Design Build Team hosted internal sessions on constructability review and survey best practices, work plans, design and specifications, and document control.

Reinforcing the importance of quality throughout the life of the project — even before construction begins — is critical to maximizing the investment in a project like the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor.

A ROYAL BLAST FROM THE BRIDGE-BUILDING PAST

From the archives, this photo from Cincinnati's Brand Studios offers a northeast view at Pier No. 3 during steel erection for what at the time was known as the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge. The image was captured by Cincinnati's Brand Studios from the top of the levee on the Kentucky side.

Interestingly, on the very same day this bridge construction photo was taken, Friday, Dec. 28, 1962, the Cincinnati Royals were battling the Boston Celtics at the Cincinnati Gardens. In that NBA matchup, the Celtics managed to prevent Royals star player Bill Russell from grabbing a single rebound during the first quarter, going on to win the game 121-113. The Royals were one of the original 11 NBA franchises, playing in the Queen City from 1957 to 1972 before relocating and becoming today's Sacramento Kings. 

Be sure to follow the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project on social media where each Thursday we share an image from the archives in recognition of "Throwback Thursday," or #TBT.

WALSH KOKOSING GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

More than two dozen members of the Walsh Kokosing Design Build Team unloaded building materials, framed walls, and installed windows at sites in Cincinnati’s West End and College Hill neighborhoods during a recent team-up with Habitat for Humanity.



The new houses, which will be dedicated in early 2025, will be given to local families in need. 

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.