I-471/Daniel Carter Beard Bridge Update
First girders on the way to Cincinnati
CINCINNATI – Since the November 1 fire at the southbound approach to the I-471/Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, there have been hundreds of people and dozens of companies involved in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s efforts to restore the structure that connects downtown Cincinnati to Newport, Ky. Here are the latest updates from ODOT, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and the city of Cincinnati.
Girders On The Way
This morning, the first girders departed Stupp Bridge in Bowling Green, Kentucky bound for Cincinnati. They are expected to arrive later this afternoon. The trucks hauling the girders will back across the southbound lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge from Kentucky into Ohio to reach the site.
Crews plan to unload the girders starting Monday morning. From the truck, girders will be lifted into place and secured by ironworkers. Two more girders will arrive on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday for a total of seven girders. Ironworkers will work around the clock to bolt all the girders into place.
Additional reinforcing steel will arrive on site Thursday.
Traffic Impacts Continue
The Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have both made adjustments to traffic signals on both sides of the Ohio River. Additional adjustments are being made, but congestion is high in the afternoon.
ODOT has added a temporary traffic camera trailer at the Ohio side of the Taylor-Southgate Bridge. Several other city of Cincinnati traffic cameras have been incorporated into OHGO to assist travelers deciding which Ohio River crossing to use.
Through-traffic on I-71 and I-75 not heading to downtown Cincinnati is strongly encouraged to use I-275 east to bypass the city. Hazardous materials loads are required to use I-275.
As a reminder, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has reduced I-275 to one lane in each direction on the Carroll Cropper Bridge between Indiana and Kentucky. Traffic is has been heavy approaching the Ohio River in both directions.
Ohio Traffic Impacts and Detour
All access points to I-471 South in Ohio are closed; these include the following restrictions in downtown Cincinnati:
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Liberty Street access to I-471 is closed.
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5th Street access to I-471 is closed.
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U.S. 50 East and West access to I-471 is closed. (U.S. 50 remains open to thru traffic.)
Southbound I-471 traffic within the I-275 outer belt is being detoured by way of I-71 and I-75 South. Thru-traffic motorists and heavy truck (semi) drivers traveling south should use I-275 to I-71/75 in Kentucky to avoid delays and congestion in the downtown Cincinnati area, and all HAZMAT operators are required to follow the I-275 outer belt.
Live traffic updates are available in Kentucky from GoKY and OHGO in Ohio, and additional information about restoration efforts can be found here: I-471 Bridge Fire
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