Construction Updates

The dust has settled from the demolition of the former KY 8 Licking River Bridge. Now it’s on to the construction of a signature bridge that will be used for decades to come!

Whether you live, work, or travel near the bridge, we want to keep you updated with what you can expect and what we’re doing to minimize disruptions.

Work Hours: Construction activity will typically occur Monday through Saturday during daylight hours within a 12-hour window.
Noise & Vibration Monitoring: Monitoring equipment is being used in Covington and Newport to provide real-time information to the project team. This helps minimize disruptions.
Expect to see large equipment and construction crews moving in and out of the work zone and overall increased activity near the project site.
You’ll likely hear noise typical of large construction projects, and loud, repetitive hammering sounds from pile driving during normal working hours.

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Summer 2026

Crews focus on the “sub-structure," the construction work that needs to take place underneath the ground to ensure the load of the bridge can be supported.
Crews are building out a trestle platform to move a large crane closer to the river. Once the platform is complete, the crane will be used to help with the installation of drilled shafts.
All 18 shafts on the Newport side have now been drilled. Concrete pours should be wrapping up soon. On the Covington side of the river, crews have been actively drilling and pouring simultaneously to save time on construction. That work is expected to be completed in the coming months.
On Friday, Aug. 7, crews drilled down into the riverbank to begin work on the first drilled shaft in Covington. Crews used a trestle platform, large crane and a drill rig with an auger to drill down 80 feet below the ground.
You might notice some large steel beams poking out of the ground on the Newport side. This is work on the Newport abutment. Piles are being driven into the ground outside of the flood wall where the bridge will ultimately tie into the road network.