One of America’s busiest bridges for truck traffic is closing down for months

Portions of the Brent Spence Bridge will be closed throughout 2021 for routine maintenance starting March 1st, officials say. 

The routine maintenance, which includes cleaning and painting of the bridge structure, will start on Monday, March 1st and is expected to last through November 15th, 2021. 

Because of the maintenance, portions of the bridge will be shut down in phases to allow for the necessary upkeep. 

The first round of closures is expected to begin Monday, March 1st at 8 p.m.

Closures for the Northbound side: 

The two westernmost lanes of Interstate 71/Interstate 75 northbound crossing the bridge will be shut down. This closure will remain in place throughout Phase 1 of the maintenance project. 

The on-ramp to I-71/I-75 northbound from Fourth Street in Covington will be closed on Monday and will remain closed to traffic until the project is fully completed. 

Closures for Southbound side:

The two westernmost lanes for Interstate 71/Interstate 75 southbound crossing the bridge. This closure will remain in place throughout phase 1. 

The I 71 on-ramp from Fort Washington Way. This closure will remain in place throughout phase 1. 

3rd Street on-ramp to I 71 southbound. This closure will remain in place throughout phase 1. 

This bridge repair project is the first of its kind to be implemented in over 30 years, and comes shortly after a temporary closure for repairs following a serious semi truck hazmat fire. 

“This is a routine project that is part of the normal lifecycle of a major structure like the Brent Spence Bridge,” Bob Yeager, chief district engineer of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 office, said in a statement to The Enquirer.

“Just as you have to perform regular maintenance on your personal property like your car & your home so it stays in good working order, we have to perform regular maintenance on our public infrastructure to ensure it remains safe for long-term use,” he said.

For more information on the project and upcoming closures, click here.