A fire shut down a bridge spanning the Ohio River on Friday, which connects the states of Ohio and Kentucky.
“A massive fire shut down the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge that connects Ohio and Kentucky. No injuries were reported and the cause of the blaze is under investigation,” CBS Evening News wrote.
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A massive fire shut down the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge that connects Ohio and Kentucky. No injuries were reported and the cause of the blaze is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/PYi8Tfxbyi
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) November 1, 2024
From the Associated Press:
The fire broke out overnight near a playground under the bridge, shutting down Interstate 471, according to the Cincinnati Fire Department.
Video showed flames soaring more than 40 feet into the air and igniting a short section of the bridge, known for its yellow arches, near downtown Cincinnati. Chunks of concrete fell from the bridge and the fire warped a few of its steel beams, fire crews reported.
The heaviest damage was on the bridge’s southbound lanes leading to Kentucky and will take weeks to repair, said Matt Bruning, a spokesperson with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
At least three beams and a section of the roadway will need replaced, he said.
What caused the fire is under investigation, said Frank McKinley, the city’s fire chief. The flames were fueled by mulch as well as plastic and wood playground structures below the bridge, he said.
The Daniel Carter bridge connecting Cincinnati and Kentucky is now shut down and said to have structural damage to the steel due to a car fire that took place underneath the bridge. What kind of fire burns so hot it damages the steel of a bridge? pic.twitter.com/KraCBOyswA
— Renee (@Reneefit97) November 1, 2024
McKinley said more than 60 firefighters helped extinguish the blaze.
Northbound lanes on I-471 reopened to traffic, but southbound lanes of the bridge will be shut down indefinitely.
Hey Cincinnati! ICYMI: you won’t be able to travel through Kentucky from Ohio using the I-471 Daniel Carter Beard “Big Mac” bridge for the foreseeable future due to a large fire from this morning. pic.twitter.com/CAjSA6PXEZ
— Don 𝕏 (@don1372) November 1, 2024
A massive fire closed the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge Friday.
Asst. Fire Chief Matt Flagler said responding firefighters located underneath the bridge a fire at the playground: https://t.co/rvnjCNsLus pic.twitter.com/XJVs6UGA4g
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) November 1, 2024
Per WLWT:
The bridge, also known as the “Big Mac” bridge, is a major thoroughfare connecting Ohio and Kentucky.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has entered into an emergency repair contract with Great Lakes Construction, and they hope to begin work later Friday.
All lanes on I-471 were closed for most of the day on Friday, with the northbound lanes opening to traffic again around 9 p.m. Friday.
The southbound side has more “significant damage,” with Bruning saying there are at least three steel beams that suffered damage and need to be replaced and with that, a portion of the bridge deck. A sign truss on the bridge also suffered damage and will need to be replaced before those lanes can be reopened.
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