I-71/75 Ramp Closures Begin This Month in Covington

Long-Term Closures Begin on or after May 20 as Part of Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.

(Covington, Ky.) - Interstate 71/75 ramp closures and detours beginning this month in Covington are needed to safely advance construction on the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, which will add interstate lanes, better access, a new companion bridge and convert the existing bridge for local travel to improve safety and increase regional highway capacity.

Temporary and permanent interstate ramp closures and detours will begin on or after Wednesday, May 20. Detour routes will be in place for each affected closure, and include:

I-71/75 Southbound On-Ramp from Bullock Avenue/MLK Jr. Blvd.; Bullock Rd. between Pike St. and MLK Jr. Blvd.; no access to W. 12 St.

• Closure date: Wednesday, May 20 beginning at 7 a.m. for on-ramp construction.
• Location: The on-ramp to I-71/75 SB from Bullock Avenue (0.1 - 0.3 mile points); Bullock will also close between Pike St. (0.0 mile point) and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (0.1 mile point) with no access to W. 12^th St.; Simon Kenton Way will be reconfigured to two-way traffic when Bullock Avenue closes.
• Detour: Pike St/Dixie Highway (U.S. 25) to Kyles Lane (KY 1072), to I-71/75 southbound. W. 12^th St. will be accessed from Pike St. to Hermes Avenue via new temporary traffic signal.
• Reopening: The I-71/75 southbound on-ramp and Bullock Avenue is expected to reopen late October 2026; 12^th St. access from Bullock remains closed through duration of the project.

I-71/75 Northbound Exit 191 Ramp to 12^th St./MLK Jr. Blvd./Pike Street

• Closure date: Wednesday, May 20 beginning at 7 a.m. for Pike Street ramp construction.
• Location: Exit 191 northbound off-ramp to 12^th St./MLK Jr. Blvd./Pike Street (0.0 - 0.28 mile points)
• Detour: Traffic will use the I-71/75 northbound 5th Street exit ramp, turn left (north) onto Philadelphia Street, then left onto 4th Street driving west to the I-71/75 southbound ramp to Pike Street. Turn left on to Pike Street, then right on to Simon Kenton Way, then left on to MLK Blvd.
• Reopening: Northbound exit ramp reopens summer of 2027

I-71/75 Southbound to W. 5^th St.

• Closure date: On or after Tuesday, May 26
• Location: Exit 192 southbound off-ramp, which splits to either W. 5^th or Crescent Ave.; the W. Fifth St. portion (0.01 - 0.07 mile points) will close permanently. Additionally, W. Fifth Street will close between Crescent Avenue (6.5 mile point) and the I-71/75 northbound off-ramp to Fifth Street (6.67 mile point)
• Detour: Exit 192 Southbound to Crescent Ave. will remain open. Detour will follow Crescent Ave. north to W. Third St. heading east.

About the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project 

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project is one of the nation’s most significant transportation transformations, spanning eight miles of I-71/75 in Kentucky and I-75 in Ohio. Construction will begin with the new companion bridge to the Brent Spence Bridge and one mile of approach work in each state. In addition to the new bridge, the project will upgrade the existing Brent Spence Bridge to carry local traffic; improve safety and reduce congestion by separating local and through travel; redesign ramp configurations throughout the corridor; and add new pedestrian and bicycle connections linking neighborhoods to jobs and transit. This once-in-a-generation investment will strengthen national freight movement, support local businesses and workforce growth, and enhance quality of life for the millions who rely on this critical corridor. For more information, visit brentspencebridgecorridor.com.