Recommended changes to plans for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Ohio and Kentucky leaders have announced changes to plans for the Brent Spence Bridge corridor after listening to public concerns.

These involve the areas leading to the Brent Spence Bridge on either side.

Transport leaders say the public has made it clear they want some changes. So ODOT and KYTC asked the design teams to incorporate as many of these requests as possible.

Stretching from the Western Hills Viaduct to Dixie Highway, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is designed to improve approximately five miles of Interstates 71 and 75 in Kentucky and three miles in Ohio.

On the Kentucky side, the plans are as follows:

• Eliminate direct access to West 9th Street
• Maintain existing access on Pike Street
• Minimize impact on the Goebel Park complex
• Alteration of I-71/75 to reduce the amount of retaining walls by 94,000 square feet

On the Ohio side:

• Take the Western Avenue ramp to I-75 southbound
• Combine I-75 ramps with 2nd and 3rd streets
• Reconfigure US-50 east and west to follow a single alignment that would allow for the future extension of 5th Street to Gest Street
• Take the westbound US-50 ramp to Gest Street

Leaders say the Ohio changes will improve connectivity between downtown and Queensgate.