close
close
  • Fri. Nov 1st, 2024
    • '
    Which roads are closed due to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire?
    News

    Which roads are closed due to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire?

    author
    2 minutes, 15 seconds Read

    Access to several Cincinnati-area roads was restricted after a major fire closed the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge early Friday morning.

    Known colloquially as the Big Mac Bridge, the bridge carries traffic between Cincinnati and Newport and across the Ohio River.

    Due to the damage caused by the fire, the bridge is currently closed in both directions. According to a release from the Ohio Department of Transportation, numerous ramps to I-471 and surrounding roads are also closed.

    Traffic disruptions and detours in Ohio

    I-471 southbound at the bridge crossing is expected to be closed until further notice.

    Detour: Traffic on I-471 southbound from Cincinnati is currently being detoured via I-71 and I-75 South.

    The following restrictions also apply in downtown Cincinnati:

    • Access to I-471 via Liberty Street is closed.
    • Access to I-471 via Fifth Street is closed.
    • P. 50 east and west access to I-471 is closed (US 50 remains open to through traffic).
    • Pete Rose Way/Riverside Drive is closed below the driveway.
      • Motorists traveling eastbound on Pete Rose Way can use Eggleston Street.
      • Westbound Riverside Drive (US 52) was scheduled to be rerouted to Columbia Parkway (US 50).

    Traffic disruptions and detours in Kentucky

    All northbound lanes of I-471 are closed at the I-275 interchange.

    Detour: Motorists are advised to use I-275 eastbound or westbound for the detour.

    The following northbound I-471 on-ramps/exits are also closed:

    • Alexandria Pike exit (US 27).
    • Exit Grand Avenue (KY 1892).
    • Memorial Parkway exit (KY 1120).
    • Dave Cowens Drive exit (KY 8X).

    The goal is to reopen northbound traffic as soon as it is safe to do so, ODOT wrote in the news release. A full inspection of the bridge must be completed before ODOT knows when northbound traffic can reopen.

    Southbound I-471 on- and off-ramps in Kentucky remain open.

    What do we know about fire?

    At 3:20 a.m., the Cincinnati Fire Department responded to a fire on Pete Rose Way under the Ohio approach to the bridge, the release said. Firefighters on scene saw a large fire at the Sawyer Point 1000 Hands Playground, which is located under the bridge. The flames reached more than 40 feet high and set the bridge on fire.

    The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

    What do we know about the condition of the bridge?

    Bridge inspectors from ODOT and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are on site to inspect the structure, the release said. Significant damage was found to at least three beams and part of the bridge deck on the south side. Less significant damage was found on the north side.

    Inspectors will conduct a more thorough examination of the bridge once the scene of the fire in Cincinnati is deemed safe.

    According to the release, ODOT is working to finalize an emergency repair contract.

    Similar Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *