Brent Spence Bridge Companion Bridge Set To Begin Construction

The $4.05 billion project will create 1,000 construction jobs with wages starting at $30 per hour.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:18pm

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The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project in Northern Kentucky is moving forward with plans for a groundbreaking this spring. The project will build a new companion bridge and make highway improvements in both Ohio and Kentucky, aiming to improve safety and reduce congestion along the critical interstate corridor.

Why it matters

The Brent Spence Bridge is a vital link for interstate commerce and commuters between Ohio and Kentucky. This project will deliver on a long-awaited promise to modernize the aging infrastructure and provide a safer, more efficient travel experience for families, businesses, and freight carriers who rely on this corridor daily.

The details

Construction will begin with building the new companion bridge and improving approximately one mile of highway approach in Ohio and one mile in Kentucky. Subsequent portions of the project, including additional highway improvements and rehabilitation of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, will be planned and estimated closer to the time of construction. The project is expected to generate 6 million hours of work and employ over 700 skilled tradespeople, potentially reaching 1,000 workers at peak construction.

  • Construction will begin this spring.
  • The new companion bridge is expected to be complete and open in 2031.
  • The approach work is expected to be substantially complete by 2033.

The players

Andy Beshear

Governor of Kentucky.

Jim Gray

Secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Pamela Boratyn

Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Walsh Kokosing

The design-build team for the project.

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What they’re saying

“We are delivering on a promise to families, businesses and freight carriers who rely on this corridor every day and have been awaiting a better, safer commute.”

— Jim Gray, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary

“This project will make travel safer, strengthen the economy, and build a transportation system that reflects the importance of this region to Ohio, Kentucky and the nation.”

— Pamela Boratyn, Ohio Department of Transportation Director

What’s next

Pending weather and construction schedules, the new companion bridge is expected to be complete and open in 2031, with the approach work substantially complete by 2033.

The takeaway

This project represents a historic collaboration between Kentucky and Ohio to modernize critical interstate infrastructure, improve public safety, and support the regional economy through good-paying construction jobs and more efficient freight movement.