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‘Tremendous accomplishment;’ Part of busy interstate reopens after Ohio River bridge fire

I 471 reopens Photo contributed by ODOT Cincinnati (via X) (ODOT Cincinnati (via X) /ODOT Cincinnati (via X))
(ODOT Cincinnati (via X) /ODOT Cincinnati (via X))

CINCINNATI — Part of a busy interstate is back open months after a fire severely damaged it.

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The southbound lanes of Interstate 471 approaching the Daniel Carter Bridge reopened Sunday night, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

As originally reported by News Center 7, the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge sustained “significant damage on the Ohio approach,” Matt Bruning, ODOT spokesperson, said on Nov. 1.

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The opening came exactly 100 days after a fire damaged the roadway.

“Reopening southbound access to this bridge in just over three months is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Governor DeWine on Friday. “The closure of these lanes wasn’t only an inconvenience, but also a disruption to the supply chain. I applaud our ODOT team and their partners for working hard to finish the project ahead of schedule.”

ODOT, Great Lakes Construction, and at least two dozen sub-contractors worked to design both the bridge’s demolition and reconstruction.

Our news partner WCPO in Cincinnati reports that crews put the finishing touches on the bridges.

This included “grinding and grooving the newly cured concrete deck and some final welding below the expansion seal,” WCPO said.

ODOT crews took down barricades, signs, and cones from the closure on Sunday. They also painted the line markings for the interstate.

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