The roughly 8,100 drivers that cross the John A. Roebling Bridge each day will need to settle into a different route.
On Monday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reduced traffic on the suspension bridge to one lane, as crews prepare for a 10-month restoration project. On Feb. 15, the bridge will close entirely to all vehicle traffic. KYTC expects to reopen the bridge to vehicles in November.
While open to a single lane, special signals will direct traffic while restoration crews set up their equipment before the full shutdown. During these first two weeks, drivers should expect traffic backups on the bridge as two-way traffic is condensed to one lane.
One of the bridge's two pedestrian walkways will remain open throughout the project.
Commuters looking for alternatives have multiple options, but -- as with any bridge closure in the Downtown-stretch of the Ohio River -- they should expect rush-hour congestion and disruptions on every alternate route.
Here's a breakdown of the available detours:
Downtown to Covington
- Brent Spence Bridge route: From Third Street, merge onto Interstate 71 southbound onto the Brent Spence Bridge. Once across, take either of the first two exits -- Fifth Street or 12th Street/MLK Jr Boulevard, respectively -- to reach Covington.
- From the Fifth Street exit, take Fifth Street to Greenup Street. Follow Greenup to the Licking Riverside (Roebling) District.
- From the 12th Street/MLK Jr Boulevard exit, follow MLK to Greenup Street. Follow Greenup to the Licking Riverside (Roebling) District.
- Clay Wade Bailey Bridge route: From Third Street, cross the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge into Mainstrasse Village. Continue straight on Main Street. Turn left at Fifth Street, and follow Fifth Street to Greenup Street. Turn right onto Greenup, and follow to the Licking Riverside (Roebling) District.
- Via Newport: From Second Street, merge onto Pete Rose Way, and turn left onto the Taylor Southgate Bridge to Newport. Enter the roundabout, and exit at the first right onto Third Street. Enter the second roundabout, and exit at the first right onto Fourth Street toward the Veterans Memorial/Fourth Street Bridge to Covington. Continue straight on Fourth Street to the Licking Riverside (Roebling) District.
Covington to Downtown
- Brent Spence Bridge route: Take Fourth Street to the Brent Spence Bridge. Merge onto Interstate 71/75 northbound across the Brent Spence Bridge. Exit toward Fort Washington Way/U.S. 50 eastbound, and take the Second Street exit.
- Clay Wade Bailey Bridge route: Take Fourth Street to the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Exit the bridge on either Second or Third streets.
- Via Newport: Take Scott Boulevard to Fifth Street. Turn left onto Fifth Street, and continue until it dead-ends at Garrard Street. Turn left on Garrard, and then turn right at Fourth Street onto the Veterans Memorial/Fourth Street Bridge into Newport. Follow the roundabout and take the second exit onto Third Street. Follow the second roundabout to the Taylor Southgate Bridge into downtown Cincinnati.
Click or tap the +/- in the bottom right corner of the map below to zoom.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that both pedestrian walkways will remain open during the bridge's closure. It has been updated to reflect that only one of the two pedestrian walkways will remain open. WCPO regrets the error.
