The following information is a repost of ODOT's 11/25 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.

Shoring Towers Going Up 

After the concrete foundation cured over the weekend, installation of the second round of shoring towers began Monday. These are needed to provide additional support directly to the damaged section of southbound I-471 before any demolition work can begin. Installation is expected to be completed before Thanksgiving. 

Demolition Starts Friday 

As mentioned the day of the fire, the section of southbound I-471 that suffered the most significant damage will need to be removed and replaced. Close-up inspections on Friday and Saturday, November 15 and 16, found even more damage to the deck, bearings and girders than the initial inspections revealed. In addition to a fourth girder that will need to be replaced, the deck has separated from the girders, leaving a large portion of the deck unsupported. 

Demolition of portions of the bridge deck is set to begin this Friday; however, getting to this point has required a customized plan, and a team of engineers have been working on this continuously over the last two weeks. The plan for just the concrete deck is 224 pages long and details everything from where cuts should be made to where equipment should be placed and how to safely offload weight from the warped deck. Along with this is a separate demolition plan for the girders, which is just as detailed and complex. These specialized demolition plans are necessary to ensure the approach remains stable for the safety of the public and workers. 

Timeline Coming Into Focus

While engineers have been designing the custom demolition plans, another team has been contacting steel fabricators to determine which company will be able to expedite production of the girders that need to be replaced.  ODOT and Great Lakes Construction are in conversations daily with these companies on ways to shorten the process, utilize available components, and reduce fabrication time. The timeline will depend upon the availability of steel. Once this is known, ODOT will provide an update on the projected timeline for construction.

Project Updates 

Updates are being provided 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