( Frankfort, Kentucky ) - In an update Monday afternoon, Gov Andy Beshear announced what he calls very good news when it comes to the Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River. "Based on our inspections and based on testing, the crash and fire early last Wednesday did not compromise the integrity of the bridge," Beshear said in an update streamed online.
The governor says there are some repairs that need to be done, and the timeline for reopening the bridge is December 23.
The head of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Jim Gray, says the challenge with the Brent Spence has always been capacity, not strength. When it was originally constructed, the Brent Spence Bridge was intended to carry 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles per day, and it's been carrying twice that for years.
Governor Beshear is urging drivers in the area to be patient.