Demolition Begins on I-471 Approach, Sawyer Point Park Restrictions in Place

All work is scheduled for completion in March.

Photo provided.

CINCINNATI – Demolition is underway on the I-471 Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.

Since the November 1 fire at the southbound approach to the bridge, there have been hundreds of people and dozens of companies involved in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s efforts to restore the structure that connects downtown Cincinnati to Newport.

Work to remove the most significantly damaged section of I-471 southbound got started on Friday morning.

Crews started by cutting and removing small sections of the damaged concrete deck. Once the surgical deck demolition is completed, a traditional concrete slab removal will come next. Demolition is expected to continue for at least a couple weeks.

During demolition, portions of Sawyer Point Park are closed off to pedestrians. This includes the trail that runs along the Ohio River. These closures will be in place for a couple of weeks.

Once crews complete demolition on the southbound section, they’ll turn their attention to removing and repairing a 70-foot section of the left wall on northbound I-471 that was damaged in the fire. This work is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. Once finished, all lanes of northbound I-471 will be allowed to reopen.

The steel girders needed for repairs are being manufactured by Nucor Steel. They’ll then be shipped to Stupp Bridge in Bowling Green, KY for custom-fabrication. They are scheduled to arrive in Cincinnati by mid-January. All work is scheduled for completion in March. Damaged bearings for the bridge are being fabricated in Brunswick, Ohio. 

Ohio Traffic Impacts and Detour 

All access points to I-471 South in Ohio are closed; these include the following restrictions in downtown Cincinnati:  

• Liberty Street access to I-471 is closed. 
• 5th Street access to I-471 is closed. 
• U.S. 50 East and West access to I-471 is closed. (U.S. 50 remains open to thru traffic.) 

Southbound I-471 traffic is being detoured by way of I-71 and I-75 South. Thru-traffic motorists and heavy truck (semi) drivers traveling south should use I-275 to I-71/75 to avoid delays, and all HAZMAT operators are required to follow the I-275 outerbelt.   

Kentucky Traffic Impacts

A single-lane closure is in effect on I-471 North beginning at the 3.6-mile marker near Memorial Parkway and continuing across the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.