Repair plans for the reopening of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Covington, Kentucky, are expected to be announced by the end of the week.
A spokesperson from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet—which maintains the bridge—told city officials that the state is continuing to accept bids from contractors for a temporary, emergency fix of the bridge.
The bridge’s roadway and its upriver sidewalk have been closed to traffic since April 17, when sandstone fragments fell from the east side of the bridge’s north tower.
The bridge is a critical link between Covington and Cincinnati, carrying more than 8,000 cars a day in addition to many pedestrians. Many Covington retail shops and restaurants say their sales have suffered since the closure.
The reopening was of particular importance given that the bridge will be closed again next year by the state for a previously scheduled $8 million project. The project, currently in the design phase, is meant to be a more permanent solution to the deteriorating sandstone. That project is scheduled to be sent out to bid in spring or early summer.
The temporary fix to the bridge has been complicated by the 152-year-old structure’s weight limit and historic status.
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NEWS & IMAGE SOURCE: City of Covington
