4th Street Bridge Closure Confirmed for January 12, 2024

URGENT UPDATE: The 4th Street Bridge, which spans the Licking River between Covington and Newport, is set for a complete closure starting the week of January 12, 2024, according to a new announcement from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). This sudden development is crucial for residents and commuters who rely on this bridge daily.

The closure will affect both vehicle and pedestrian traffic as the bridge prepares for demolition ahead of a planned replacement in the spring of 2026. KYTC officials emphasize that closing the bridge is a safety measure to keep pedestrians and cyclists away from the construction zone, which is expected to expedite the project by approximately one year.

Bob Yeager, Chief District Engineer at KYTC, stated,

“The complete closure of the bridge crossing will ensure pedestrians and bicyclists are not located near an active work zone. Expediting the reopening of this vital bridge crossing is a priority.”

A shuttle service will be provided by TANK during the bridge’s closure, ensuring public transportation options remain available for commuters.

The new bridge, designed with three steel arches rising 58 feet above the roadway, will span 446 feet across the Licking River—nearly 200 feet longer than the current structure. It will include two 12-foot wide shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians, making the bridge compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Originally planned to be built in two phases allowing for partial access, KYTC has shifted to a complete demolition approach for safety reasons. The new bridge is projected to open in the summer of 2028, with the entire project expected to wrap up by Fall 2028.

The existing bridge, built in the 1930s, has been deemed functionally obsolete. KYTC has been preparing for its redesign for the past nine years, with the weight limit previously reduced to 12 tons. This restriction has barred certain vehicles, including school buses and fire trucks, from crossing.

The decision for the bridge’s redesign comes in response to a 2016 traffic study indicating that future developments in both Covington and Newport would necessitate additional traffic lanes. As development continues in these areas, the new bridge will accommodate four lanes of vehicle traffic, although the approach into Covington will remain at two lanes.

Residents and commuters are urged to stay updated as KYTC will provide more specifics on the closure date and time as the project progresses.

Stay tuned for further developments on this critical infrastructure project impacting the community.