Northern Kentucky's state representatives joined Ohio and Kentucky leaders Thursday to mark the beginning of construction on a new companion bridge to the aging Brent Spence Bridge, a project that has been in the planning stages for nearly two decades. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Duke Energy Substation on the Cincinnati side of the future span.

Representatives Stephanie Dietz, Mike Clines, TJ Roberts, Kim Moser, Kim Banta, Mark Hart, Marianne Proctor, Steve Doan and Savannah Maddox said in a statement that the project represents "a transformational investment in Kentucky's infrastructure, economy, and future growth." The groundbreaking brought together Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster.

The new companion bridge will be a cable-stayed independent deck bridge with two levels, with both decks supported by a cabling system similar to the Abraham Lincoln Bridge in Louisville and the Veterans Glass City Skyway in Toledo. Unlike other double-decker bridges, the two decks will not be connected by steel work.

The representatives said the project is critical given the corridor's importance to national commerce. They noted that more than $1 billion in freight crosses the bridge daily and that "roughly two-thirds of the United States population" lives within a day's drive of Kentucky. The legislators said the companion bridge will improve safety, reduce congestion and strengthen supply chains.

The projected total cost of the project is estimated at nearly $4.4 billion, with the cost of construction going forward accounting for $4.05 billion. The expense represents a significant increase from earlier estimates, driven by construction cost inflation. From 2020 through 2025, highway construction costs rose nationally by 61%.

The new companion bridge is expected to be complete and open in 2031, with the approach work substantially complete by 2033. The project will generate around 6 million hours of work, employing more than 700 skilled tradespeople, with a workforce of possibly up to 1,000 people at peak construction.

The representatives said the Kentucky General Assembly has committed significant state funding to help move the project forward, made possible through what they characterized as "responsible budgeting and a commitment to prioritizing critical infrastructure needs." The Biden administration awarded approximately $1.6 billion in federal grants to the project.