I-471 bridge repair schedule coming Wednesday, ODOT says

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – We’re about to learn the expected timeline for repairs needed to reopen a bridge that carries about 97,900 vehicles a day across the Ohio River between downtown Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 471 on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, also known as the “Big Mac Bridge,” were closed for nearly a month after a massive fire under the bridge in early November.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation say they have a clearer idea of ​​the repair timeline and that it all depends on the availability of steel.

The schedule and next steps for the demolition of this section of the bridge will be revealed at a press conference at 10 a.m.

The fire damaged four girders that must be built from scratch using steel and replaced before the bridge can reopen, according to ODOT.

The timeline for repairs “will depend on the availability of steel,” ODOT said in a news release last week.

ODOT has contacted steel manufacturers “to determine which company will be able to expedite production of the (beams) that need to be replaced.”

Strong demand for steel

Steel has been in high demand for years amid a surge in construction and infrastructure projects and especially after supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The war in Ukraine has also disrupted global trade.

More recently and closer to home, two consecutive hurricanes, Helene in late September and Milton in early October, left much destruction in our southern states, including Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.

These hard-hit areas will need steel to recover.

The same goes for Baltimore, Maryland.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor collapsed in March after being struck by a massive cargo ship.

The Port of Baltimore is one of the nation’s largest shipping hubs, and the Francis Scott Key Bridge is essential for travel in the Northeast United States, according to the White House.

What caused the fire?

The cause of the fire, which ignited a wooden and rubber playground at Sawyer Point Park under the bridge, is still under investigation by the Cincinnati Fire Department.

Firefighters remain discreet about their investigation.

This week, they issued a press release addressing “speculation” that it may have been one or more homeless people.

“Cincinnati Fire Administration has received frequent and recurring questions about the cause of the fire under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471) three weeks ago. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit (FIU). There is currently nothing to share about the duration or timeline of this investigation,” the fire department said.

“Many have speculated that the fire originated from one or more homeless people, but this speculation cannot currently be confirmed or denied as the FIU investigation regarding the I-471 Bridge is ongoing. Sharing information too early can compromise the integrity of the investigation by jeopardizing the safety of witnesses, alerting potential suspects, and revealing crucial strategies. For this reason, until the FIU has a definitive reason to share, we will not be able to share anything.

To stay up to date on the I-471 Bridge, ODOT is posting daily project updates.

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