The following information is a repost of ODOT's 11/21 Press Release about the I-471 Bridge Closure:

 

CINCINNATI – Since the November 1 fire at the southbound approach to the I-471/Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, there have been hundreds of people and dozens of companies involved in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s efforts to restore the structure that connects downtown Cincinnati to Newport, Ky. Here are the latest updates from ODOT, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and the city of Cincinnati.

Next Round Of Shoring Towers Going Up, Demo Work To Begin  

Four beams were significantly damaged by the fire and are no longer supporting the weight of the concrete deck of the bridge. Due to the damage to load-bearing beams on the southbound approach span, additional shoring towers will be needed to provide proper support under the deck before demolition can begin.  

The first step is to begin installing a foundation for the new shoring towers. Crews have begun constructing the forms for the footers, and they are expected to begin pouring the concrete for the footers on Friday. The concrete will need at least 72 hours to cure. Crews are expected to begin erecting the next round of towers early next week. Once tower construction is complete, demolition can begin, and this is scheduled to start the day after Thanksgiving and will continue through December. 

Due to the extensive damage to the structure, this will be more of a “surgical” demolition than a typical bridge deck demolition. A team of engineers has been working since shortly after the fire to design the demolition plan which includes how the damaged section will be removed and where equipment will need to be placed to perform the demolition.  

Northbound Wall & Southbound Pier Repairs 

The detailed inspections that were completed last Saturday revealed damage to a 60-foot section of the concrete wall on the left side of northbound I-471. ODOT and Great Lakes Construction will be coordinating with KYTC on the repairs; however, the damaged wall does not impact the structural integrity of the bridge.  

Along with the wall, the piers under the southbound approach will need to be repaired before reconstruction can begin on the bridge. The schedule to complete these repairs will be dependent upon the demolition schedule. 

Closing In On A Timeline 

Although the details of an exact timeline for construction to begin and be completed has yet to be determined, ODOT and Great Lakes Construction are getting closer to knowing the schedule. Behind-the-scenes, staff have been contacting steel fabricators to determine which company will be able to expedite production of the girders that need to be replaced. The timeline will depend upon the availability of steel. Once this is known, ODOT will provide an update on the projected timeline. 

Project Updates 

Updates are being provide as they are warranted. As we move into construction, we anticipate providing regular updates to inform you about the progress that has been made and the work that is planned. Of course, all updates will continue to be posted to ODOT’s web page dedicated to the bridge repair at I-471 Bridge Fire. 

Ohio Traffic Impacts and Detour 

All access points to I-471 South in Ohio are closed; these include the following restrictions in downtown Cincinnati:  

• Liberty Street access to I-471 is closed. 
• 5th Street access to I-471 is closed. 
• U.S. 50 East and West access to I-471 is closed. (U.S. 50 remains open to thru traffic.) 

Southbound I-471 traffic is being detoured by way of I-71 and I-75 South. Thru-traffic motorists and heavy truck (semi) drivers traveling south should use I-275 to I-71/75 to avoid delays, and all HAZMAT operators are required to follow the I-275 outerbelt.   

Kentucky Traffic Impacts 

A single-lane closure is in effect on I-471 North beginning at the 3.6-mile marker near Memorial Parkway and continuing across the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge. 

Live traffic updates are available in Kentucky from GoKY and OHGO in Ohio, and additional information about restoration efforts can be found here: I-471 Bridge Fire