Brent Spence Bridge Corridor July 31, 2024 eNewsletter

A program from the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio is helping to fill the pipeline of skilled tradespeople for major regional projects such as the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

Building Futures, a 12-week apprenticeship readiness program, will begin the third of this year’s four classes next month in a continuing effort to help participants obtain living-wage jobs in the region’s building and construction trades.



The first three weeks of the program are run by the Urban League and focus on “soft skills,” such as financial literacy and interviewing techniques, said Dusty Bryant, program manager. 

The subsequent nine weeks, meanwhile, focus on a curriculum developed by building trade unions and is taught by instructors from the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 265, in Cincinnati.

Bryant said wages earned by graduates of the program that are working in the field average between $24.50 and $36.50 per hour.

To learn more about Building Futures or to apply, visit https://www.ulgso.org/buildingfutures. Anyone meeting the minimum qualifications will have a one-on-one conversation with staff, Bryant said.

In addition to the Ohio Department of Transportation, program sponsors include the Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council, Hamilton County Office of County Commissioners, AFL-CIO and TradesFutures.

PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS VOLUNTEER WITH GIRL SCOUTS SHE BUILDS EVENT

Members of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor bi-state management and design build teams worked with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio recently to provide education and hands-on learning around engineering and environmental fields. Girl Scouts ages 10-16 built scale model bridges out of popsicle sticks and hot glue, learned how to correctly use hammers and drills and helped build a stage for the camp. 

In teams of two, the girls were free to choose any bridge type they wanted to build with the only requirement being that it had to be long enough to span the scale model Ohio River which was approximately one foot long. Each group of girls showed unique creativity and teamwork – with help from Walsh Kokosing Design Build Team staff they built arch bridges, K truss bridges, Warren truss bridges, and more!



Members of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) team along with HNTB talked with the girls about careers in engineering and construction. As part of the morning, they worked with them on drill and hammer skills prior to them heading to the stage construction. 

ENGINEERS GATHER VITAL DATA FOR UPCOMING CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS

Engineers recently conducted important nighttime inspections on the upper deck of the Brent Spence Bridge in preparation for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

Working after dark to minimize traffic disruptions, inspectors used aerial lifts and specialized climbing techniques to access key areas of the bridge structure.

The team, led by Travis Baker, AECOM senior bridge engineer, collected essential measurements, notes and photographs. This data will be crucial to the rehabilitation project planned for the truss.

"This work is important because it helps with public safety and infrastructure, keeping bridges functioning as they need to be," Baker explained.

While the work presents challenges – operating at heights, nighttime temperatures and coordinating around traffic – it provides valuable insights for the engineering team. The information gathered will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

Watch this video for a behind-the-scenes look at the inspection process.

BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE THROWBACK IMAGE CAPTURES STEEL CONSTRUCTION PHASE

This black and white photograph from the City of Cincinnati, Division of Engineering archives, offers a view of the Brent Spence Bridge during its construction just 10 months before completion in 1963.

Taken from the Kentucky side, the photograph looks north, revealing the steel erected between Piers No. 3 and 4, with Pier No. 2 also visible. The vantage point from the top of the levee provides a unique perspective on the scale and complexity of the project.

Known as the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge during the planning and construction period, the bridge opened on November 25, 1963. Designed to carry 80,000 vehicles daily across the Ohio River, it featured three lanes of traffic in each direction.

Stay tuned to our newsletter and social media channels for more throwback images as we continue to chronicle the history of the Brent Spence Bridge.

BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY NETWORK EVENTS

Walsh Kokosing Joint Venture hosted two Brent Spence Bridge Business Opportunities Networker events for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) companies at Zola's Avondale Café on July 25. Attendees had the opportunity to meet the project team and hear the latest information on how to get involved.  

Stretching from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky, the estimated $3.6 billion project will be built without tolls and transform an eight-mile portion of the I-71/75 interstate corridor, including a companion bridge immediately to the west of the existing bridge. More information about the project is available at BrentSpenceBridgeCorridor.com. A video outlining last year’s progress can be viewed here.