Ohio will need at least $10 million to repair fire-damaged I-471

The state of Ohio will need at least $10 million to repair damage from the Nov. 1 fire that partially closed the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

In a news release Thursday afternoon, the Ohio Department of Transportation said the total cost of the project would not be known until repairs were completed.

“However, preliminary estimates for materials, design and consulting will likely be at least $10 million,” the release said.

The Department of Transportation will pay for the project and then seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Relief Program, officials said. Federal funding is available because Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an order declaring the project an emergency.

For comparison, the 2020 repair of the fire-damaged Brent Spence Bridge cost less than half of the $12 million secured in emergency federal funding, according to Michael Baker International, the consulting engineer based in Pittsburgh.

The Brent Spence was closed for 41 days, beginning November 11, 2020, after a tractor-trailer crashed into a truck that had jackknifed on the Brent Spence and started a fire.

Demolition work almost complete

The southbound lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge have been closed since a fire broke out Nov. 1 in Sawyer Point Park below. Three of the bridge’s four northbound lanes reopened the next day.

The Park Fire damaged southbound Interstate 471, where it connects to the bridge, as well as a small portion of the northern portion of the highway. The bridge itself was not damaged.

Workers completed most of the demolition work on damaged sections of the Interstate Bridge this week. Next week, the shoring towers will be moved to support the highway reconstruction. The concrete foundations of the towers were poured on Thursday.

Southbound I-471 and the bridge are expected to reopen in March.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How much will it cost to repair I-471?