The bridge’s overall “sufficiency” rating, on a scale from 1 to 100, was 59 in last year’s report, graded as a “C-minus.” The bridge rated a 78 in 2006. It has gotten worsening scores in major categories of upkeep, maintenance and structural integrity.
The bridge has been deemed safe, but its deteriorating condition concerns some experts.
The problem continues to be lack of a funding plan or construction start date for the $2.4 billion replacement job. A proposal to use tolls to help cover the cost has run into political roadblocks on the Kentucky side. Kentucky owns the bridge that is a key transportation and commerce link in the region.
Records show the bridge hasn’t been painted since 1991, adding to rust and minor cracking; concrete has decayed to expose internal steel that could rust, and drains are often clogged, adding to water pooling on the bridge that drops in waves to the bottom deck during heavy rains.
The bridge years ago was deemed “functionally obsolete” because of design deficiencies such as narrow lanes and lack of emergency lanes on a bridge with high traffic volume.
Results from the latest inspection conducted last month by Kentucky and Ohio highway officials are due in January.
The continued deterioration is cause for concern, a bridge safety expert says.
“From reviewing the inspection reports, it appears that more things should be done to get the bridge back into shape,” said Abolhassan Astaneh, professor of structural and bridge engineering at the University of California-Berkeley. “If they keep waiting to fix it, the bridge’s condition will continue to worsen even more quickly.”
Under state legislation introduced earlier this year, motorists would pay a toll to cross the Ohio River on a bridge to handle traffic on I-71/75 in Cincinnati.
Sponsoring legislators said a new bridge would reduce delays by about 80 percent. The toll system would be automated and the plan is for no manned toll booth. The systems are used outside Ohio. Motorists are either billed for the passage or make online monthly or yearly toll purchases.
Thirty-eight major U.S. transportation projects are either using or are converting to all-electric tolling, including 11 projects in Texas and six projects in Florida, the legislators said.
The Brent Spence Bridge opened in 1963. Today, approximately 172,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily. A new bridge and fixing up the Brent Spence would cost an estimated $2.6 billion.
Staff Writer Steve Bennish contributed to this report.
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