Kentucky and Ohio officials are seeking firms interested in building the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor. The call for bids comes one month after Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and bipartisan leaders received a historic $1.635 billion federal investment in the project.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) released the request for proposals (RFP). The contract addresses six of the eight miles of the corridor, including five miles of the Interstate Highway 71/75 corridor in Kentucky and one mile of I-75 in Ohio. The project includes improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge and the construction of a companion bridge to its west.

Responses to the RFP are due March 31, 2023. State leaders hope to select a design-build team in May. Planning will take place immediately, and construction work should begin by the end of the year.

The project will use the progressive design-build method, which awards a contract based on qualifications, the best overall approach, and value instead of the typical lowest-bidder approach. “The progressive design-build process is the right delivery approach based on the complexity of this project,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “Working in collaboration with the contractor during the design process will bring more innovative design ideas to the table and improve the project overall.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the two states $250 million for the project from its National Infrastructure Project Assistance discretionary grant program in addition to the $1.38 billion from the Bridge Investment Program. Both states can begin preparing for construction through an Interstate Cooperative Agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities for procurement, funding, construction, and maintenance of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

Kentucky and Ohio expect to break ground later this year and begin construction in 2024, with a substantial completion goal of 2029.