NKY legislative caucus hears public input on Brent Spence Bridge

Officials from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) re-emphasized their support for a $2.6 billion replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge — almost certainly with the use of tolls — while others spoke against that plan in front of Northern Kentucky state lawmakers on Oct. 23.

“The chamber believes that the Brent Spence Bridge corridor is the single highest priority for infrastructure improvements in our community,” said David Heidrich, chairman of the chamber’s board. “Secondly, we know of no way that that project can be funded without some form of user fee, or toll.”

“We want to get this bridge built sooner than later,” Robert Koehler of OKI told lawmakers. “Why? Well, of course, safety. Every day that goes by, the risk that you take traveling over this structure is significant. Every day that goes by, the cost goes up.”

Read the full Northern Kentucky Tribune story here.