COVINGTON, Ky. — An Ohio River bridge damaged by fire has reopened to traffic between Kentucky and Ohio.
Traffic began moving on the Brent Spence Bridge Tuesday afternoon after a fiery truck crash closed it on Nov. 11.
A six week repair project repaired and restored the bridge between Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati. The bridge carries interstates 71 and 75 over the river.
The reopening happened a day earlier than Kentucky transportation officials had expected. A final inspection was done on the repair work Monday night. Workers had to finish painting lane striping on the bridge’s upper and lower decks before the reopening, the governor’s office said.
“We are pleased to reopen the Brent Spence Bridge ahead of schedule and return one of the nation’s busiest and most important economic travel corridors to public use,” Beshear said.
The state used $12 million in federal emergency funds for the work. Earlier this month, crews installed new support beams and a new concrete driving surface where the bridge was damaged.
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