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 current weight restrictions for large vehicles.
The Arch concept includes significant safety improvements for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Its two 12-foot-wide, cantilevered 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.
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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, distinct V-shaped concrete piers frame the river.
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“We’re excited to share the final bridge type selection,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “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.”
Approved Bridge Concept Design - Arch
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, traffic calming measures will be identified and implemented into the project’s final design.
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The project team will continue to engage with local community leaders to identify additional aesthetic and functional features to include in the project. An updated project schedule is expected in the first quarter of 2024.