Cincinnati, Ohio – OKI President and Clermont County Commissioner David Painter and OKI CEO Mark Policinski have responded to today’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1.6B to Ohio and Kentucky toward construction of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
“This is an undeniably magnificent day for the entire region,” said David Painter, OKI President and Clermont County Commissioner. “We especially thank and congratulate Governors DeWine and Beshear on their successful joint efforts to procure essential funding for this much-needed transportation project. I am more optimistic than ever that the region will finally see the completion of this decades-in-the-making initiative.”
“The final piece of the puzzle is finally in place. The work of OKI, our governors and so many other individuals and groups has come to fruition and culminated in a historic $1.635 billion in funding,” said OKI CEO Mark Policinski. “The Cincinnati region will forever be in debt to Senator Rob Portman for his extraordinary work in negotiating the passage of the $1.2. trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill in the U.S. Senate. The beginning of construction next year marks the next phase of the long-awaited and much needed companion bridge, and we can’t wait for it to start. A new companion bridge and upgrades to the current bridge is no longer in question. It’s a reality and the entire region should be thrilled at today’s news.”
OKI is a council of local governments, business organizations and community groups committed to developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs to improve the quality of life and economic development potential of the Tri-State.