Work to Replace 90-Year-Old Licking River Bridge Begins Soon in Covington

After nearly a century in service, the Licking River Bridge connecting Covington and Newport, Kentucky, is finally set for replacement. Officials from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced that demolition of the existing 90-year-old structure will begin in early 2026, clearing the way for a modern, multimodal bridge designed to better serve today's traffic needs.

With an estimated daily use by 11,000 to 17,000 people, the current bridge has long been overdue for an overhaul.

“A lot of the existing facilities on the existing bridge are outdated. They're not up to today's design standards,” said Cory Wilson, KYTC project manager.
“There's a desire within the community to have something that obviously looks nice, but also meets today's pedestrian and bicycle standards.”

The new bridge will feature two vehicle lanes in each direction, along with wide 12-foot multi-use paths on both sides. These will accommodate cyclists and pedestrians with improved safety and accessibility.

“Those two 12-foot multi-use paths on each side of the bridge are really going to give pedestrians and bicyclists an opportunity to cross more efficiently, more safely, and really just have some great views when they're doing so,” Wilson added.

Beyond daily commuters, the new design is expected to restore bus service across the river, an essential step for public transportation.

“They spoke today about how much they're looking forward to re-establishing a route that crosses the Kentucky 8 Bridge,” said Wilson. “That one is a big one and I think will be huge for all the development that's happening.”

The project is expected to take approximately two to two and a half years. While a specific budget has not yet been released, officials confirmed that the funding is coming from Kentucky’s highway plan.

To ease the disruption, KYTC plans to offer a shuttle service for pedestrians and cyclists during demolition, with stops in both Covington and Newport.

“We're working hard to expedite the schedule as much as we can,” Wilson said. “But at the end of the day, we're replacing a large bridge, and that takes time. We have worked with our contractor to mitigate that as much as possible.”

• Design Improvements: The replacement bridge will follow modern federal and state safety standards, addressing structural limitations and accessibility issues of the old design.
• Community Impact: Local businesses and residents anticipate improved connectivity between Covington and Newport, fueling redevelopment efforts along the riverfront.
• Environmental Considerations: KYTC is coordinating with environmental consultants to ensure river habitat protections during demolition and construction.
• Historical Significance: The original Licking River Bridge has served as a vital connector for nearly a century, and KYTC plans to include commemorative signage on the new structure honoring its history.

Originally reported by Katie Amrhein, WKRC in Local 12 News.