The governors of Kentucky and Ohio have agreed on a plan to split construction costs and build a new bridge linking Covington and Cincinnati.
Steve Beshear and John Kasich outlined the proposal at a press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 28).
Beshear says the two states would divide the costs evenly, each committing part of their transportation budgets toward the mega project. He says there would also have to be tolls on those using the structure.
However, Beshear says there would be a substantial discount for regular commuters.
Governor Kasich says Kentucky and Ohio have been waiting for the federal government to foot the estimated two-point-six billion dollar cost of a new bridge but that seems unlikely. Kasich says the current Brent Spence Bridge is outdated and unsafe.
The two governors have directed their transportation departments to come up with options for reducing the cost of a new bridge by March 31st. They’re hoping their state legislatures can vote on a plan in 2016.
