COVINGTON, Ky. — The complicated process of restoring the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge will keep the span closed to vehicle traffic for at least two months and likely longer, Covington city leaders announced in a Wednesday news release.
Falling chunks of sandstone forced transportation officials to close the bridge to vehicles April 17, although it has since remained open to pedestrians and bike traffic. Covington Mayor Joe Meyer said the fragments of rock were “large enough to have killed someone.”
“Emergency repairs” to an iconic 152-year-old structure can’t be done as quickly as they could to a newer one, according to public information officer Nancy Wood. Fixes must match the bridge’s historic style and materials as well as being functional, and repair equipment must stay on the right side of its weight limit.
Creating a plan, taking bids from contractors and completing the repairs will take six weeks at a minimum, Covington officials said.
Meyer said the closure concerned him primarily because of the bridge’s status as an economic artery for his city.
“We've been taking every opportunity to reiterate the importance of the bridge to Covington businesses and commuters," he said in Wednesday’s release.
