The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hoping to secure federal funding so two major construction projects - The Western Hills Viaduct, and the Brent Spence Bridge - can be completed. Recently, ODOT submitted funding applications to the Federal Highway Administration in order to secure the federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
"We're really excited for this opportunity," ODOT District 8 planning engineer Tom Arnold said. "It's a new program that wasn't available in previous years. So, that's why we feel this is definitely a ripe opportunity for the project to move forward."
ODOT is requesting $1.6 billion to move forward with the construction projects.
Ohio and Kentucky would provide matching funds to fix the Brent Spence and construct a two-level companion bridge alongside it. The Western Hills Viaduct is also moving forward, in which the city of Cincinnati submitted a grant of $200 million to cover the cost of.
The city is moving forward with design and working with Duke Energy on utility relocation.
"That is a very large undertaking in itself," principal structural engineer, Bill Shefcik said. "It's a $12.5 million relocation cost for the transition line alone, so we've been working closely with Duke."
The city projects the new viaduct will be open by the end of 2028, with a completed project by 2030.
For the Brent Spence Bridge project, if all goes well with the federal grant money, ODOT expects to start construction spring of 2024.
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Source: ODOT
