APPROVED BRIDGE
TYPE DESIGN
The signature three-arch bridge design has been selected for the KY 8 Licking River Bridge project. This design will add a fourth lane, update bike and pedestrian connections, boost safety for all users and lift the weight restriction that prevents large vehicles, such as transit buses, from utilizing the crossing.
Approved Bridge Concept Design - Arch
The Arch concept includes significant safety improvements for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Its two 12-foot-wide, shared-use paths are separated from vehicular traffic and bring the bridge into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while also offering users open river and city views.
​
The Arch bridge concept features three slender steel arches reaching 58 feet above the roadway, and the bridge spans 446 feet across the Licking River. This is nearly 200 feet longer than the main river span of the existing bridge and creates expansive views of the landscape. Below the bridge deck, concrete piers will not only serve to support the structure, but will also visually frame the Licking River.
​
“The arch concept features a signature aesthetic design that considers the surrounding environment, including the nearby historic neighborhoods of Newport and Covington. Drivers and pedestrians can look forward to separate shared-use paths and four lanes that will accommodate traffic in this growing, vibrant region for decades to come.”
Next Steps
The design-build team will use the Arch design to work toward the final configuration for the bridge approaches and refine the overall design. During this process, design refinements, such as traffic calming measures will be identified and implemented into the project’s final design.
​
The project team will continue to engage with local community leaders to identify additional aesthetic and functional features to include in the project. The project team is actively working on an updated project schedule. A full bridge closure is expected in January 2026. Demolition of the existing KY 8 Licking River Bridge is expected in Spring 2026. Construction is expected to last through Fall 2028, with the bridge reopening to traffic in Summer 2028.