GHOST TRACKS

Subject: Progress Update: Western Hills Viaduct Replacement Project Good Afternoon: As this year comes to a close, we are reaching out to share an update on the Western Hills Viaduct replacement project. It’s official! The city this week accepted and appropriated several grants totaling $154. 1 million Good Afternoon: As this year comes to a close, we are reaching out to share an update on the Western Hills Viaduct replacement project. It’s official! The city this week accepted and appropriated several grants totaling $154.1 million for the project, including the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant announced in September. Construction of the new bridge is fully funded based on the current total project estimate of $398 million. Also, this week, the city issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to a short-listed group of contractors interested in serving as the project’s construction manager. Proposals are due in January and the project team expects to select the construction manager by the end of the first quarter. As previously announced, the RFP follows our Request for Qualifications in the summer. After reviewing qualifications from five contractors this fall, the team has invited three to submit proposals. Meanwhile, site preparation for the new bridge is moving along as planned. The city finalized the acquisition of the last property on the west side of the project site in November. On the east side, demolition of the ChemPack property on Spring Grove Avenue is expected to begin in the spring. As you may know, this will be the site for the new Duke Energy substation that will be relocated from south of the existing viaduct to the north of it. Looking ahead, the project team will continue detailed design on the bridge throughout 2023, which will include significant input from the construction manager once the firm is hired. Likewise, the Ohio Department of Transportation will continue work on detailed designs for the new Interstate 75 interchange that will connect to the new bridge. We will continue to provide periodic updates as the project progresses. Please visit our project website to learn more: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/WHV Let us know if you have any questions. Happy holidays, Ursula Thomas Miller Communications Manager Department of Transportation & Engineering

Latest plan for I-75 in Queensgate posted by ODOT last week.

Latest plan for Queensgate area posted last week.

The latest plans for Covington posted by KYTC include the 5th street onramp to SB-I75 and the 4th Street NB (to the BSB) onramp for reconfigured I-75. Will also be able to take the Clay Wade Baily to new I-75 N on ramp at Third St opposite the bridge intersection.

Scaffolding has been erected on the north sidewalk of 6th street for the entire block. Does anyone know if that is temporary protection for peds during this weekends demo work or will be in place for the long term?

I suggest everyone check out the aesthetic design committee meeting info at the following web site under the 2022 folder. https://brentspencebridgecorridor.com/documents/ It is surprising to see the contrast between the level of effort on the Kentucky and Ohio sides regarding aesthetics, impacts and multimodal connectivity, based on the documented meeting minutes.

Based on ODOT 2021 traffic counts the I-75 access ramps for 5th -9th Streets had less than 10k average daily traffic combined in 2021. While Covid had an impact I think these numbers, likely reflect the new normal with significantly less office employment in the CBD. Seems like the current number of interstate access points could be consolidated.

Did anyone attend one of SORTA's BRT study meetings?

ODOT has posted new info on their procurement site for the Brent Spence including current base mapping. https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt/design-build/bsb-project-procurement/Pages/default.aspx They will be soliciting engineering/contractor design builders in January assuming they get a Big Federal grant award this fall. Maintenance of traffic phasing only goes to south of 12th street in Covington not all the way to south of Dixie Highway so may be hedging their bets to cut back the project limits on the Kentucky end if they don't get enough federal money to cover the full $2B cost.

It is my understanding that five construction manager teams for the Viaduct submitted proposals to the City and the selection is to be made in the next week. Any word on who the contactors will be?

Shouldn't the Brent Spence discussion be on moved to that thread under roadway discussion on the transportation forum. ODOT posted additional info and base mapping on its procurement page located at https://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ConstructionMgt/design-build/bsb-project-procurement/Pages/default.aspx. Plan to select the design build team in May of 2023 after soliciting qualifications in January.

One item that I have not heard thus far in the discussions regarding the relocation of Hilltop to the mouth of the Millcreek in Queensgate is that the Central Railroad of Indiana and CSX effectively control the access to both parcels and there are no public streets or at grade crossings serving the sites. I don't know that the railroads have weighed in on any changes in access or use to these parcels. Seems like they are an important stakeholder in this area and have been overlooked as is often the case.

Is it me or do the ornamental pylons on the MLK bridge look like they are made out of legos.

http://local12.com/news/local/engineers-plan-to-replace-80-year-old-viaduct

City is hosting public meetings on the Viaduct next Tuesday and Thursday evening.

I think the City added hangers for the water main to prevent it from falling into the rail yard given the condition of the concrete on the viaduct

While I agree with the comments on the design of these houses they are far less likely to have structural issues than houses perched on the hillsides along Columbia Parkway or in Newport.

I believe I read that the City was canceling the widening of Westwood Ave. but the MSD work on Lick Run was continuing

See the following: http://rcnky.com/articles/2015/02/05/youll-probably-how-nice-taylor-creek-overlook-park-will-be-after-construction

Saw article a couple of weeks ago KYTC is extending the Taylor Creek Culvert and the City of Newport is building new greenspace/overlook on the Riverfront.

I think the only way the trail will proceed is if the City, SORTA or others buy out the Indiana and Ohio Railway, Kinder Morgan and Cincinnati Barge and Rail Terminal.

I am surprised at the lack of work on the interior. I thought that Dunnbumby was supposed to move later this spring but it doesn't appear that the office space is being prepared or that any work is going on at the ground level either. Wonder of the bankruptcy and purchase by Krogers has delayed plans for the HQ move.

I think the current plan for the Duck Creek Extension is not grade separated at Red Bank Expressway and would tie into the existing intersection. I wonder if Medpace is funding the bill.

This map is essentially the route of the proposed I-71/Wasson light rail during the Metro Moves campaign except is cut away from I-71 at MLK and not Rockdale.

The percentage by State DOT does not really matter in the end since vast majority of funding would be via tolls paid by users where ever they reside as well as federal highway funds. Since they are still value engineering the project (it way originally broken into 12 phases in 2010 and not one single project) it is likely the costs by state may vary. ODOT has had to shell out a lot of funds for the Duke substation on the Ohio Side of the river that allow for the bridge construction that I don't know were not fully accounted for in the original splits. I would still be surprised to see the Kentucky legislature move on tolling this year.