SB I-471 could be closed for “weeks” after a massive fire damaged the bridge over the Ohio River

CINCINNATI (WXIX) — The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge and both sides of Interstate 471 over the Ohio River between downtown Cincinnati and Newport will remain closed Friday after a massive fire damaged the bridge.

State inspectors are currently examining the bridge and hope to open the north side of the bridge as soon as it is safe to do so, said Matt Bruning, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

There's no timeline yet for when the bridge might fully reopen, but the southbound side along I-471 could be closed for “weeks,” he said.

Detours: I-71/75 or AA Highway to the Taylor Southgate Bridge

The north side of the bridge was less damaged than the south side, so it will be reopened once it is inspected and deemed safe, he said.

However, the southbound side of the bridge has “some significant damage” and repairs could cost millions and take weeks, according to Bruning.

A portion of the bridge deck as well as at least three steel beams and a sign truss would need to be replaced, he said.

“Obviously it's going to take some time to get some steel beams here,” Bruning said. “A fire under a bridge like this is of great concern to us and will take some time to extinguish.”

It could take weeks and up to six weeks, he admitted.

He confirmed the repairs would be similar to those at the Brent Spence Bridge when it was closed for six weeks at the end of 2020 due to a fiery early morning truck accident.

Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley said the cause of the fire and where it started were under investigation.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” he said.

They are cooperating with Cincinnati police and federal investigators.

According to the fire chief, the playground was full of wood and synthetic materials, causing a fire that could likely reach several thousand degrees.

The flames shot up to 40 feet into the air, causing a second fire on the bridge, Assistant Fire Chief Matt Flagler said.

No one was injured and no vehicles or hazardous materials were involved or released.

The Cincinnati Fire Department initially responded to the incident at 3:20 a.m

There are conflicting reports from 911 callers, Flagler said.

Some reported a vehicle fire on southbound I-71, while others said there was a fire under or near the highway and bridge, according to the deputy fire chief. There were also initial reports of explosions.

When firefighters arrived, they found the playground at Sayler Point Park on Pete Rose Way completely engulfed in flames.

The fire's heat and flames intensified and spread to the bridge, where a second fire broke out, Flagler said.

“The fire on the bridge was quite complex and damaged the structural steel of the bridge,” he said.

According to initial emergency reports, firefighters reported “concrete falling on the north side of the bridge” and “significant metal deformation under the bridge to the point where it could fail.”

The fire was contained, but it took hours for emergency services to completely extinguish the fire.

Sawyer Point is closed Friday “due to damage from the fire,” Cincinnati Parks wrote on its Facebook page.

The playground, named “1000 Hands Playground,” appears to have been destroyed and is still smoldering.

All streets in downtown Cincinnati up to I-471 are closed, as is Pete Rose Way.

According to Cincinnati police, boats are still allowed on the Ohio River under and around the bridge.

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