Massive fire damages Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, I-471 closed

CINCINNATI (WXIX) — The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge and both sides of Interstate 471 over the Ohio River are closed for at least the morning commute, possibly longer, after a major fire damaged the bridge early Friday.

A large outdoor fire at Sawyer Point Park under the bridge damaged structural steel, Cincinnati Deputy Fire Chief Matt Flagler said.

I-471 has been closed at the bridge on both sides of the river since about 3:30 a.m

Then, just before 7:30 a.m., police also blocked drivers on both sides of I-275 in Northern Kentucky from getting onto I-471, according to Campbell County dispatchers.

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

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 Sawyer Point Park playground was heavily impacted by the fire and the fire actually spread to the bridge structure of the I-471 bridge. “The fire on the bridge was quite complex and caused some damage to the structural steel of the bridge,” Flagler said.

The fire has been contained, but crews are still extinguishing hot spots, conducting overhaul and trying to salvage as much as possible, Flagler said.

The Cincinnati Fire Investigation Unit is working to determine the cause.

According to Jake Ryle, KYTC spokesman and Matt Bruning, ODOT spokesman, inspectors from both the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are on site with engineers and inspectors to examine the bridge up close as soon as the fire department says she is safe.

“They will inspect and look through the bridge to determine if it is safe to allow traffic back onto the bridge. We don’t have a timeline yet for when that will take place,” Ryle said.

Both state agencies responded to the incident because KYTC owns the bridge, but the damaged section is on the Ohio side, right where the bridge begins on the river, Bruning said.

“Obviously we see the same thing you see. Apparently there are some beams that are damaged, but we don't yet know how extensive the damage is. We won't know until we can get an inspector close. Our people are down there.”

Friday's incident was initially reported by multiple 911 callers as a vehicle fire on or near southbound I-71 near the bridge.

Fire officials confirmed later Friday morning that there was no car fire or hazardous materials involved, at least as far as they know at the time.

They also said that there was “no loss of life as far as we know.”

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