Officials in Covington, Ky. are emphasizing the need for government funding for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project amid the confusion surrounding the lack of clarity in regards to President Trump's proposed federal funding freeze.
A federal judge temporarily halted enforcement of Trump's freeze until Monday, Feb. 3. The Trump Administration announced Wednesday afternoon that it was rescinding its funding freeze memo.
The multi-billion-dollar transportation project has three components: the construction of a new bridge along the Interstate 71/Interstate 75 corridor, improvements to the existing bridge and improvements along eight miles approaching both sides of the Ohio River.
The design for the project has been underway since 2005.
According to a press release from Covington, the most recent cost estimates were at least $3.6 billion, with the federal government allocating $1.6 billion of that in January 2023.
“As a route for $2 billion in goods a day and many thousands of workers’ commutes, the Brent Spence Bridge’s impact on local, regional and national commerce cannot be overestimated,” said Covington Mayor Ron Washington in a press release.
Any delay would raise the project's construction cost, according to Covington officials. Even a conservative 1% escalation due to a 90-day pause could translate to an increase of $36 million-plus on this project alone.
“Covington was instrumental in right-sizing the project to mitigate the impact on the region, in pushing federal officials to forgo tolls as a funding mechanism, and in fighting for amenities like nearby bike paths and aesthetic improvements like lighting and sound barriers,” Washington said in a news release. “Given what’s at stake here, I assure our businesses and residents that we will continue to be vocal in moving the project toward the construction phase, and our federal partners share our cautious optimism.”
Source: WCPO, NKYTribune
