Improvements Made Two Days After Massive Fire Beneath Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
Improvements Made Two Days After Massive Fire Under Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
Two days after a massive fire broke out beneath the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, some improvements have been made to the affected area. The fire, which started under the Cincinnati side of the bridge at the Sawyer Point 1000 Hands Playground, caused extensive damage and led to the total closure of the bridge and surrounding roads.
The fire, which was initially reported at 3:20 a.m. on Friday, reached more than 40 feet in height. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. However, officials stated that the southbound side of the bridge suffered a substantial amount of damage, with at least three beams, a portion of the road deck, and a sign truss needing replacement.
Following the fire, the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge and both sides of Interstate 471 over the Ohio River were shut down. Crews also closed I-471 access points in Kentucky and Ohio, as well as downtown Cincinnati streets.
As of Sunday morning, some progress has been made in restoring normalcy to the area. The northbound lanes of I-471 have been reopened after safety inspections and bridge cleaning were completed. However, the far-left lane of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge remains closed.
Additionally, a single-lane closure has been extended southbound from the bridge to near Memorial Parkway for the safety of motorists and construction crews. The southbound lanes of I-471 remain closed until further notice, with an emergency contract in place to repair the southbound approach to the bridge.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and plan ahead, as alternate routes may be necessary. Updates on the project can be found on transportation.ohio.gov, and live traffic updates are available in Kentucky and Ohio.
Despite the closure of Sawyer Point Park for safety reasons, the Ohio Gold Cup Tournament, an amateur pickleball tournament, will still take place in the park this weekend. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials stating that the exact cause is still unknown.
