This week, transportation officials in Ohio and Kentucky unveiled the design for a double-decker “companion” to the existing Brent Spence Bridge.

On Wednesday, June 18, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear partnered to debut the design of a new companion bridge to be built over the Ohio River, connecting Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

The new companion bridge will be built as part of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, which also includes upgrades to existing Brent Spence Bridge.

The estimated cost of the bridge is $3.6 billion, to be split evenly between Ohio and Kentucky. Construction is expected to start later this year.

Once the new companion bridge is built, the existing Brent Spence Bridge will be reconfigured from four lanes to three lanes on each deck with emergency shoulders on each side to improve safety and carry local traffic between Covington and Cincinnati. The new companion bridge will carry traffic on I-71 and I-75.

“This companion bridge to the Brent Spence Bridge will become an iconic part of the Cincinnati skyline, improving safety and travel between our two states and addressing one of the worst truck bottlenecks in the nation,” said Governor DeWine.

Officials selected a cable-stayed independent deck bridge design in which both the upper and lower decks will be supported by a cabling system.

The existing Brent Spence Bridge has been in use since 1963, and officials say that it currently carries traffic volumes “far exceeding its original design capacity.”

“The new companion bridge will be a game-changer for commuting families and it’ll revolutionize a crucial economic corridor,” Governor Beshear said. “This is a project that has been dreamed of for years and that many said would never happen. But we are getting it done by working together — and we’re doing it without tolls.”

“This is more than just a bridge — it’s a long-overdue investment in the future of our region,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn. “For decades, communities have waited for a safer, more efficient crossing that not only eases traffic and improves safety but also strengthens one of our most critical freight corridors. This new bridge will unlock economic opportunities, support regional growth, and better connect people and commerce for generations to come.”

See a visualization of the companion bridge in the video below.