COVINGTON, Ky. — This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded more federal funding to head to northern Kentucky as part of a new Mega Grant program.

It’s for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project. This is in addition to the $1.6 billion the Biden administration announced in January.


What You Need To Know

  • The Biden administation and USDOT awarded $250 million in a new Mega Grant program
  • The Brent Spence Bridge is one of several bridges across the country to benefit from the funding
  • The Biden administration is investing $1.6 billion into improvements of the Brent Spence Bridge
  • The project is to help with the congestion and safety problem on the bridge

U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg said the Biden administration recently awarded $250 million for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

“The Brent Spence Bridge is such an important project, we decided in addition to the bridge announcement that the president made in January, to put in this additional $250 million resources,” Trottenberg said. “And I know working with the governors and the local communities, these are going to be the dollars you’re going to need to see this project to completion.”

President Joe Biden speaks about his infrastructure agenda near the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Covington, Ky. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

USDOT said over $400 billion in freight movement crosses the Brent Spence Bridge annually, and they estimate that to grow to over $800 billion by 2030.

“This is a bridge that carries an enormous amount of traffic, and is very important economic connection in the country. The dollars are going to be used to build a new bridge and rehabilitate the old bridge, improve the capacity and functionality of the crossing and continue again, I think, to contribute to mobility and freight movement nationwide,” Trottenberg said.

The project calls for a new companion bridge. It will distribute traffic on both bridges, reducing the weaving and merging of drivers as well as preventing over 150 crashes yearly.

“This has been a president who has been a big booster in investing in American infrastructure and I might add very enthusiastic to make sure that American workers and American suppliers have a part in making sure that these projects get built,” Trottenberg said.

Last month, President Biden visited northern Kentucky to announce the $1.6 billion investment in the region for the project.

“I think he came in the door knowing that we’ve had decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure system,” Trottenberg said. “And yeah, we get bad grades on a lot of American infrastructure, but with the resources that we’re putting into the Brent Spence Bridge and projects all across the country, we’re going to be able to bring those infrastructure facilities up to a state of good repair again.”

The department also said construction of the companion bridge will significantly support emergency and disaster preparedness.

USDOT said the Brent Spence Bridge corridor project is one of nine national projects selected for this first year of the mega grant program.