PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Brent Spence Bridge is a major thoroughfare for both local and national traffic, connecting two states that are critical to the movement of people, goods, and services. The bridge carries I-71 and I-75 traffic over the Ohio River and has four lanes of traffic on each of the upper and lower decks. 

Beginning March 1, 2021, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is managing a routine maintenance project to clean and paint the bridge. The project, which is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 15, 2021, will require various lane closures on the bridge, as well as the closure of several ramps that provide access to the bridge. 

Planned Traffic Pattern Changes for I-71/75 Northbound – Friday, July 23 – Sunday, July 25:  

• Weather permitting, beginning at 10 p.m., Friday, July 23, travel on I-71/75 northbound will be reduced to one lane.  

​

• Also at 10 p.m., Friday, access to I-75 northbound from the Brent Spence Bridge will be CLOSED. Access to I-75 northbound from the bridge is expected to be closed for several hours.  

​

• Once the set-up work on the western side of the bridge is completed, crews will reopen access to I-75 northbound and then access to I-71 northbound will be CLOSED. Access to I-71 northbound is expected to be closed until 5 a.m., Sunday morning.  

​

• In addition, overnight Friday, from approximately 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., there will be rolling roadblocks on I-71/75 northbound. Law enforcement will be in place just south of the bridge in Kentucky and will hold traffic in 15-minute increments to allow crews to safely set the next traffic pattern on the bridge.  

By 5 a.m., Sunday morning, two lanes of travel will be restored, and the following traffic pattern will be in place: 

• The far left lane on I-71/75 northbound will be open for drivers to access I-75 northbound in Ohio. 

​

• The far right lane on I-71/75 northbound will be open for drivers to access I-71 northbound in Ohio.  

​

• The two center lanes will be CLOSED. Changing lanes on the bridge will not be possible. If you are in the left lane, you will proceed to I-75; if you are in the right lane, you will proceed to I-71.  

This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place through Sunday, Aug. 29, weather permitting.

No changes are planned for the southbound travel lanes. The two right (westernmost) lanes of travel on I-71/75 southbound are open; the two left (easternmost) lanes of travel are closed.  

Current Travel Patterns:​

Traveling northbound, the two right (easternmost) lanes are open; the two left (westernmost) lanes are closed.

​

Traveling southbound, the two right (westernmost) lanes are open; the two left (easternmost) lanes are closed. 

​

In addition, the following ramps are CLOSED and will remain closed throughout the duration of the maintenance project: 

​

• The on-ramp to I-71/75 northbound from Fourth St. in Covington

​

• The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Fort Washington Way in Downtown Cincinnati 

​

• The on-ramp to I-71 southbound from Third St. in Downtown Cincinnati  ​

NORTHBOUND LANE CLOSURES

SOUTHBOUND LANE CLOSURES 

I-71 ALTERNATE ROUTES AND DETOUR MAP