Gov. Andy Beshear announced on March 16 that construction of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is set to begin this spring, with opportunities for construction jobs starting at $30 per hour.
“I’m proud to announce a major milestone: The work is set to begin on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, which will deliver safer travel for our families, create good-paying construction jobs, boost national commerce and ease congestion for those commuting between Ohio and Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “From securing federal and state funding to ensuring project plans are moving forward, my administration has worked hard to deliver on this promise, and now we are months away from beginning the meaningful work that will get this job done. When we work together, great things can happen for the American people – something Kentucky and Ohio are proving daily.”
The initial phase of construction will focus on building a new companion bridge and improving about one mile of highway approach in both Ohio and Kentucky. This segment aims to redirect Interstate 71/Interstate 75 traffic over the new bridge as quickly as possible for safety benefits and traffic relief. Subsequent phases include additional highway improvements north and south in both states, as well as rehabilitation of the existing Brent Spence Bridge.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said, “We are delivering on a promise to families, businesses and freight carriers who rely on this corridor every day and have been awaiting a better, safer commute. This is a historic year for the entire Northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio region, and we are excited for all the good work our teams have been doing behind the scenes to lead to visible action aimed at improving the lives of the communities we serve.” Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn added that strong support from state leadership has helped move plans forward: “This project has been discussed for decades, and we are now at the point where plans are becoming reality. This project will make travel safer, strengthen the economy, and build a transportation system that reflects the importance of this region to Ohio, Kentucky and the nation. Getting to this point on the Ohio side has been a team effort with strong support from Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio General Assembly and local leaders. Together we are moving forward.”
The first portion of corridor construction is estimated at $4.05 billion due in part to increased costs for materials since 2020; Kentucky’s share is $1.7 billion. Funding will come from state revenues or financing by each state covering their own highway work while sharing costs for the companion bridge.
Job opportunities associated with this project include approximately 6 million hours of work employing more than 700 skilled tradespeople with peak workforce potentially reaching 1,000 workers; wages start at about $30 per hour according to the official roster page.
