I-471 southbound lanes stay closed after fireplace damages Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
WAY WITH BREAKING NEWS. OH, THE SHOCKING STORY THAT WE ALL WOKE UP TO THIS MORNING. TAKING A LOOK AT TIME LAPSE VIDEO HERE SHOWING YOU THE MOMENT THAT FIRE STARTED AT 1000 HANDS PLAYGROUND IN SAWYER POINT, RIGHT UNDER THE 471 BIG MAC BRIDGE, ABOUT 330 THIS MORNING. THOSE FLAMES GROWING BIG, THICK, BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FOR AT LEAST 11 MINUTES BEFORE EMERGENCY CREWS GOT THERE TO HELP. ALL RIGHT. SO WANT TO GIVE YOU A LIVE LOOK NOW AT THE BRIDGE. THIS IS FROM OUR SKY FIVE DRONE IN THE DAYLIGHT. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE CHARRED PARTS OF THE BRIDGE. WE KNOW THAT IT TOOK CREWS ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AT THE PLAYGROUND UNDERNEATH. AND IT TOOK, OF COURSE, EVEN LONGER TO GET OTHER PARTS OF THAT FIRE NEAR THE BRIDGE UNDER CONTROL SO THAT THEY COULD PUT OUT THOSE HOTSPOTS THAT CONTINUED THROUGH THE MORNING. AS OF RIGHT NOW, STILL, OF COURSE, A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TONIGHT. AND THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE AT 6:00. I’M SHEREE PAOLELLO A BUSY DAY. I’M MIKE DARDIS, AND WE ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU TONIGHT. OUR CREWS HAVE YOU COVERED FROM THE DAMAGE ON THE BRIDGE TO THE TRAFFIC IMPACT AND A WHOLE LOT MORE. BUT FIRST, TONIGHT WE WANT TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT INVESTIGATION FROM OFFICIALS. THEY ARE URGING PEOPLE, OF COURSE, TO STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA, FROM THAT PARK BECAUSE IT IS STILL CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. SO WE STILL FROM TIME TO TIME MAY SEE SOME CONCRETE, STEEL FALLING FROM THE BRIDGE. AND SO IT’S JUST THE IMPACT FROM THE FIRE OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. AND SO WE DON’T WANT PIECES OF THE BRIDGE TO FALL. AND STRIKE ANYONE. SO WE’VE SET UP A LOT OF BARRIERS, AS YOU HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE. WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN’T GO, BUT YOU’VE GOT TO DO YOUR PART AND LISTEN TO US AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM THOSE AREAS. ALL RIGHT. SO SOUTH TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE DAMAGE. THERE ARE WHISPERS THAT NORTH COULD OPEN SOMETIME SOON. WE’LL SEE. OHIO TRANSPORTATION INSPECTORS, THOUGH, SAY IT’S LIKELY GOING TO BE WEEKS BEFORE 471 SOUTH CAN REOPEN. SO CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE ACTUALLY EXPECTED TO GET TO WORK ON THIS THING TONIGHT. FIGURING OUT HOW TO START REPAIRING THIS MASSIVE PROJECT. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S BRIAN HAMRICK IS LIVE UNDER THE BRIDGE. HE GIVES US A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND ALSO THE NEW INFORMATION WE LEARNED FROM INVESTIGATORS. JUST ABOUT AN HOUR AGO. HI BRIAN. YEAH, SHEREE. WELL, THIS WAS A FIRE THAT WAS FULL OF SURPRISES. HOW COULD A PLAYGROUND FIRE CRANK OUT ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT STEEL BEAMS? WELL, THEY GOT A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS THEY GOT TO SOLVE BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THAT ONE. IT WAS A FIRE SO HOT. WHAT IN THE WORLD THAT IS RIDICULOUS. EVEN FROM ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY, SOME DIDN’T NEED TO SEE IT. YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT. THE FLAMES TURNED TO DANIEL CARTER BEARD BRIDGE ON 471 INTO A RIDE THAT WAS SCARY. DAREDEVIL FLAMES ON THE GROUND, BURSTING UP INTO THE AIR, PAST THE BRIDGE, GOING INTO KENTUCKY. ADRIAN MARTIN FELT LIKE HE COULD TOUCH THE HEAT. YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM FAR AWAY. YOU COULDN’T MISS IT. IN THE AFTERMATH, STEEL BEAMS MELTED LIKE THEY WERE MADE OF CANDLE WAX. AT LEAST THREE MAJOR BEAMS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. NOTHING LEFT OF THE PLAYGROUND EXCEPT SOME CHARRED POSTS AND A FEW SWINGS. JUST 24 HOURS AGO, IT LOOKED MORE LIKE THIS ONE. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE WAS A RIVERBOAT. NOT MUCH SMALLER THAN A REAL ONE. WAS THAT MADE OF THAT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MATERIALS SYNTHETIC MATERIALS PRIMARILY, AND SO A LOT OF PLASTICS WERE INVOLVED. SOME WOOD WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN IN THE STRUCTURE. DAMAGE WILL RUN INTO THE MILLIONS. THE BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED FOR WEEKS AS CREWS DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO FIX IT. TO GIVE YOU A TIMELINE. RIGHT NOW, IT’S JUST IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL WE GET A FULL INSPECTIONS TO THE BRANT SPENCE BRIDGE. PROBABLY THAT’S PROBABLY A FAIR COMPARISON. TAKES A FIRE ABOUT 2600 DEGREES TO MELT STEEL. A TEMPERATURE THAT WILL ALSO RAISE THE TEMPER OF DRIVERS. YEAH. NOW, ODOT SAID IT’D BE SIMILAR MAYBE TO BRANT SPENCE. THEY DIDN’T GIVE AN EXACT TIMELINE ON THAT, BUT REMEMBER THAT ONE TOOK 41 DAYS TO GET REPAIRED AND AFTER SEEING BOTH OF THESE, THIS ONE ACTUALLY LOOKS WORSE. REPORTING LIVE BRIAN HAMRICK WLWT NEWS FIVE BRIAN, I’VE BEEN WATCHING YOUR LIVE UPDATES ALL DAY AT ONE POINT OR A COUPLE TIMES. ANYWAY, WHEN I WAS WATCHING YOU WERE RIGHT NEXT TO THE THING LOOKING STRAIGHT UP AT THE WARPED BEAMS, BUT I GUESS THEY’RE KIND OF MOVING PEOPLE BACK NOW. YEAH, YOU KNOW, I DON’T THINK THEY THINK THIS IS GOING TO COLLAPSE OR ANYTHING, BUT THEY DID TALK ABOUT GETTING SOME SUPPORTS UNDER THERE TO SHORE UP UNDER THE BRIDGE BEFORE THEY EVEN GET THEIR CREWS IN THERE. SO THERE WAS THAT CONCERN. BUT THE OTHER PROBLEM WAS PEOPLE WOULD COME DOWN TO LOOK AND THEN THEY WERE GOING AROUND THE TAPE AND GETTING UNDERNEATH THERE, AND THEY SAID THEY JUST HAD TO MOVE EVERYBODY BACK FARTHER. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE OUT HERE NOW, MIKE. ALL RIGHT. BRIAN HAMRICK, LIVE FOR US TONIGHT. OUR TEAM COVERAGE CONTINUES. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FIX. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE, ALL OF THAT. BUT AS CREWS WORK TO GATHER ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, ONE OF THE BIGGEST UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TONIGHT. WHAT EXACTLY STARTED THIS FIRE? WE KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE A VERY LONG PROCESS TO GET SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S GIACOMO LUCA JOINING US LIVE TONIGHT WITH A LOOK AT THE EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION THAT’S STILL AHEAD. HI, GIACOMO. HI, MIKE AND SHEREE. YEAH, THAT INVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME. ACCORDING TO CINCINNATI’S FIRE CHIEF, FRANK MCKINLEY, SAYING A MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION HAS ALREADY BEEN OPENED INTO THIS AS CINCINNATI FIRE POLICE, ALSO WORKING WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN TANDEM TO SEARCH FOR A CAUSE WHILE CINCINNATI FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THAT BLAZE SPARKED RIGHT BENEATH THE BRIDGE NEAR 1000 HANDS PLAYGROUND. IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO SIFT THROUGH THE CHARRED PIECES AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE PLAYGROUND STRUCTURE AND TO THAT AREA, SO IT TAKES US A WHILE TO GO THROUGH THE FIRE DEBRIS TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. BUT OUR FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE ON SCENE AND THEY’RE BEING SUPPORTED BY CINCINNATI POLICE AND SOME OF OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. AS WELL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD CAUSE. AND ORIGIN OF THAT FIRE. BUT THERE’S NO KNOWN CAUSE. NOW, CINCINNATI’S FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT PROCESS DURING THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO BE PAINSTAKING, BUT THEY ARE WORKING AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE TO GET ANSWERS. LIVE DOWNTOWN GIACOMO LUCA WLWT NEWS FIVE. SO, GIACOMO, DO FIRE OFFICIALS HAVE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS FIRE IS SUSPICIOUS? OR WAS STARTED INTENTIONALLY? YEAH, THEY’RE HOLDING THOSE WORDS VERY CLOSE TO THEIR CHEST RIGHT NOW, SAYING NO REASON TO BELIEVE SUSPICION, NO EVIDENCE OF THAT JUST YET. BUT THEY ALSO SAY THEY HAVEN’T RULED ANYTHING OUT. ALL RIGHT. GIACOMO LUCA WITH AN UPDATE FOR US. GIACOMO, THANKS SO MUCH. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS FIRE ALREADY HAVING A HUGE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WHO USE THAT BRIDGE EVERY DAY. AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK NEAR THERE USE THAT PLAYGROUND RIGHT THERE UNDER THE BRIDGE AT SAWYER POINT THERE, WHERE FOLKS ARE STUNNED TO SEE ALL OF THIS DAMAGE. SWING SETS, SLIDES, MERRY GO ROUND, ALL CHARRED AND REDUCED TO JUST NOTHING BUT SOOT. THIS POPULAR SPOT WAS MADE FOR KIDS OF ALL ABILITIES AND WAS ALSO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. PEOPLE WHO USE THE PARK SAY IT’S GOING TO BE PRETTY SAD FOR FAMILIES TOO. WHO NEEDED THIS PLAYGROUND IN THEIR LIVES. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE BEEN SEEING VIDEOS AND A LOT OF PICTURES FROM SO MANY DRIVERS AND NEIGHBORS WHO WERE NEAR THE BRIDGE THIS MORNING WHEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. AND TONIGHT WE ALSO HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE. ANOTHER VIEW FROM DOWN IN THE OHIO RIVER. DOWN THERE IN THAT BOAT IS WLWT. NEWS FIVE’S TODD –. HE’S LIVE RIGHT NOW ALONG THE OHIO WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT BOATERS NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEKEND. TODD. YEAH, YOU KNOW, MIKE AND TERRY, THERE’S A WHOLE LOT TO COMPREHEND HERE FROM EVERYBODY’S PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER YOU LIKE TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME HERE ON THE OHIO RIVER OR YOU TAKE THESE BRIDGES DAILY AS AS I DO, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, DRIVING INTO CINCINNATI FOR WORK, IT’S A LOT TO TAKE IN. I’LL STEP OUT OF THE WAY. WE DO HAVE THIS UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT FROM THE OHIO RIVER SHOWING THE OHIO SIDE OF THE BIG MAC BRIDGE. YOU CAN’T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF DAMAGE FROM WHERE WE ARE AT THE MOMENT. BUT AS MY COLLEAGUE ALEX PUSHES THE CAMERA LENS IN, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE OVERHEAD ROAD SIGNS. IT’S GOTTEN SINGED BY THIS MORNING’S FIRE. SO IT’S A VERY DARK COLOR. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE LAST NIGHT. YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, BEFORE THIS MORNING’S OR THIS OVERNIGHT FIRE, AROUND 315, 320. ALSO, YOU CAN SEE SOME DISCOLORATION. THE BIG MAC BRIDGE. IT’S IT’S YELLOW. AND AS YOU’RE HEADING INTO OHIO, SOME OF THE THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE THAT WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED THAT YELLOWISH COLOR STARTED TURNING GRAY. YOU CAN TELL THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE FIRE FROM THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SO THIS IS IT IS VERY QUIET RIGHT NOW. THIS IS UNUSUAL HOUR. THE CAPTAIN OF THE BOAT HERE, PETE, OUR COLLEAGUE, HE HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE OHIO TO REDS FIREWORKS. THEY WERE AT THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT THIS SUMMER AND, YOU KNOW, SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE WATER AND SAID YOU ALWAYS HEAR TRAFFIC NOISE, BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE NOW THAT EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN IN THE BIG MAC BRIDGE, WE DID MAKE A RUN TO THE WEST, TO THE BRANT SPENCE, A LITTLE WHILE AGO. AND JUST TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST, YOU CAN HEAR ALL THAT TRAFFIC NOISE OVERHEAD. SO IT’S A MUCH DIFFERENT DYNAMIC CONSIDERING WHAT’S TAKING PLACE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE ALONG THE OHIO RIVER ON THE OHIO RIVER. TODD — WLWT NEWS FIVE. ALL RIGHT, TODD, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE. NOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE 471 BIG MAC BRIDGE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTERIES TO GET IN AND OUT OF CINCINNATI AND OVER INTO NORTHERN KENTUCKY. AND THIS FIRE AND CLOSURE IS HAVING JUST A HUGE IMPACT ON DRIVERS. AGAIN, YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT 100,000 VEHICLES A DAY THAT USE THIS AND WLWT NEWS 5 ADAM BURNISTON. NOW WITH A LOOK AT THE DETOURS, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE UNTIL THAT BRIDGE REOPENS. ADAM. YEAH, MIKE AND SHEREE A LOT OF HEADACHES FOR THAT MORNING COMMUTE AND ALSO THE EVENING COMMUTE. SO ODOT, KENTUCKY TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT SAYING TO USE 275, USE 7175 NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND TO GET AROUND THIS MESS. BUT FOR THOSE DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE DRIVE, PETE ROSE WAY, IT IS CLOSED RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT BRIDGE. SO THEY’RE CONVERTING THAT TRAFFIC TO COLUMBIA PARKWAY, WHICH IS FINALLY SHOWING SOME GREEN ON THE MAP. BUT WE ARE STILL SEEING SEVERAL OF THE BRIDGES WITH SLOWDOWNS. FIRST UP, THE TAYLOR SOUTHGATE 27 HERE, SOUTHBOUND LANES MOVING ABOUT EIGHT MILES AN HOUR. YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE SLOWDOWNS THEN INTO NEWPORT AS TRAFFIC MOVES IN THROUGH THERE. SAME THING FOR THE ROEBLING. A LITTLE YELLOW THERE. SO THAT HAS IMPROVED AS WELL AS THE CLAY WADE. BUT THEN THE BENCH BRANT SPENCE BRIDGE IMPROVING SLIGHTLY AS WE GET INTO LATER THIS EVENING. WE SAW RED EARLIER. NOW IT’S ORANGE. BUT AS WE EXPAND THE VIEW HERE, YOU SEE IT SLOWS DOWN ONCE WE GET TOWARDS THE CUT IN THE HILL AND EVEN NORTHBOUND LANES SLOW DOWN THERE. ALSO A REMINDER FOR MORNING COMMUTE. 270 524 71 NORTHBOUND THAT WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE TIME BEING. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN AT LEAST OPEN SOME OF THOSE EXITS AND YOU’LL WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE SOUTHBOUND LANES COMING INTO DOWNTOWN. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A MESS. AS WE MENTIONED, FOR THE NEXT
I-471 southbound lanes stay closed after fireplace damages Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
Up to date: 9:23 PM EDT Nov 1, 2024
The southbound lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (Interstate 471) shall be shut down indefinitely as officers examine injury attributable to a large fireplace in a single day Friday.DETOURS HERE: Site visitors re-routed after fireplace shuts down Daniel Carter Beard BridgeThe bridge, also referred to as the “Massive Mac” bridge, is a significant thoroughfare connecting Ohio and Kentucky. The Ohio Division of Transportation has entered into an emergency restore contract with Nice Lakes Development, they usually hope to start work later Friday.All lanes on I-471 had been closed for many of the day on Friday, with the northbound lanes opening to site visitors once more round 9 p.m. Friday.The southbound facet has extra “important injury,” with Bruning saying there are at the least three metal beams that suffered injury and must be changed and with that, a portion of the bridge deck. An indication truss on the bridge additionally suffered injury and can must be changed earlier than these lanes may be reopened.Here is every part we all know. HOW DID THE FIRE START?Crews had been dispatched round 3:30 a.m. Friday for a report of a hearth. About 60 firefighters responded to the scene, the place they discovered a big fireplace on the Sawyer Level Park playset space that wrapped round elements of the bridge. The hearth was put out in about 40 minutes, however crews remained on scene Friday in case any sizzling spots rekindle.Cincinnati Fireplace Chief Frank McKinley says an early estimate is the warmth obtained into the “hundreds of levels.” Investigators say plastic and numerous supplies that had been a part of the playground had been fueling the fireplace.The Cincinnati Fireplace Unit and Cincinnati Police Division are working to find out the reason for the fireplace and the purpose of origin.When requested in the event that they dominated out the fireplace being suspicious, McKinley mentioned, “We’ve not dominated something out.” Matthew Flagler with the Cincinnati Fireplace Division mentioned no accidents had been reported, and no automobiles had been impacted.See aerial video of the bridge following the fireplace under.WHEN WILL THE BRIDGE REOPEN?The southbound lanes of the bridge shall be closed till additional discover as officers examine the construction and make wanted repairs.Matt Bruning with the Ohio Division of Transportation mentioned they inspected the northbound facet first, and since there may be much less injury there, it was reopened on Friday night time round 9 p.m.Solely the far-left northbound lane of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge stays closed. The southbound facet has extra “important injury,” with Bruning saying there are at the least three metal beams that suffered injury and must be changed and with that, a portion of the bridge deck. An indication truss on the bridge additionally suffered injury and can must be changed. “To offer you a timeline proper now’s simply not possible,” Matt Bruning with ODOT mentioned, saying they’re an identical restore time for the Brent Spence Bridge after it caught fireplace in 2020, which was six weeks. Bruning says he would not suppose will probably be six weeks, however says “it won’t be days.”In an replace on Friday afternoon, Bruning mentioned officers have reached an emergency contract with Nice Lakes Development, who will start work on fixing the bridge injury on Friday night time. He additionally mentioned it is onerous to estimate how a lot it can price as they’re nonetheless working to evaluate the injury, however says it might possible be within the tens of millions of {dollars}. Sawyer Level is closed for security because of the fireplace. The Sawyer Level Pickleball Courts can even be closed via the weekend. The Ohio Division of Transportation has added a brand new web page to their web site that may replace folks on the standing of the bridge. For extra info, click on right here.MAJOR TRAFFIC IMPACTS Ohio Site visitors Impacts and DetoursODOT is diverting southbound I-471 site visitors from Ohio by the use of I-71 and I-75 South. As well as, the next restrictions are in place in downtown Cincinnati:Liberty Road entry to I-471 is closed.fifth Road entry to I-471 is closed.S. 50 East and West entry to I-471 is closed. (U.S. 50 stays open to through site visitors.)Pete Rose Method/Riverside Drive is closed below the method.Eastbound Pete Rose Method motorists could use Eggleston Road.Westbound Riverside Drive (U.S. 52) ought to divert to Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50). For dwell site visitors updates, click on right here.Residents are requested to steer clear of Sawyer Level Park because the investigation into the fireplace continues.VIDEO SHOWS THE BRIDGE ENGULFED IN FLAMESViewer video reveals the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge up in flames earlier than crews had been capable of put out the fireplace.”You may hear the popping,” one viewer mentioned in a video despatched to WLWT.One other from the next vantage level reveals simply how a lot of the bridge caught fireplace Friday morning.
The southbound lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (Interstate 471) shall be shut down indefinitely as officers examine injury attributable to a large fireplace in a single day Friday.
DETOURS HERE: Site visitors re-routed after fireplace shuts down Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
The bridge, also referred to as the “Massive Mac” bridge, is a significant thoroughfare connecting Ohio and Kentucky.
The Ohio Division of Transportation has entered into an emergency restore contract with Nice Lakes Development, they usually hope to start work later Friday.
All lanes on I-471 had been closed for many of the day on Friday, with the northbound lanes opening to site visitors once more round 9 p.m. Friday.
The southbound facet has extra “important injury,” with Bruning saying there are at the least three metal beams that suffered injury and must be changed and with that, a portion of the bridge deck. An indication truss on the bridge additionally suffered injury and can must be changed earlier than these lanes may be reopened.
Here is every part we all know.
HOW DID THE FIRE START?
Crews had been dispatched round 3:30 a.m. Friday for a report of a hearth.
About 60 firefighters responded to the scene, the place they discovered a big fireplace on the Sawyer Level Park playset space that wrapped round elements of the bridge.
The hearth was put out in about 40 minutes, however crews remained on scene Friday in case any sizzling spots rekindle.
Cincinnati Fireplace Chief Frank McKinley says an early estimate is the warmth obtained into the “hundreds of levels.”
Investigators say plastic and numerous supplies that had been a part of the playground had been fueling the fireplace.
The Cincinnati Fireplace Unit and Cincinnati Police Division are working to find out the reason for the fireplace and the purpose of origin.
When requested in the event that they dominated out the fireplace being suspicious, McKinley mentioned, “We’ve not dominated something out.”
Matthew Flagler with the Cincinnati Fireplace Division mentioned no accidents had been reported, and no automobiles had been impacted.
See aerial video of the bridge following the fireplace under.
WHEN WILL THE BRIDGE REOPEN?
The southbound lanes of the bridge shall be closed till additional discover as officers examine the construction and make wanted repairs.
Matt Bruning with the Ohio Division of Transportation mentioned they inspected the northbound facet first, and since there may be much less injury there, it was reopened on Friday night time round 9 p.m.
Solely the far-left northbound lane of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge stays closed.
The southbound facet has extra “important injury,” with Bruning saying there are at the least three metal beams that suffered injury and must be changed and with that, a portion of the bridge deck. An indication truss on the bridge additionally suffered injury and can must be changed.
“To offer you a timeline proper now’s simply not possible,” Matt Bruning with ODOT mentioned, saying they’re a comparable restore time for the Brent Spence Bridge after it caught fireplace in 2020, which was six weeks.
Bruning says he would not suppose will probably be six weeks, however says “it won’t be days.”
In an replace on Friday afternoon, Bruning mentioned officers have reached an emergency contract with Nice Lakes Development, who will start work on fixing the bridge injury on Friday night time.
He additionally mentioned it is onerous to estimate how a lot it can price as they’re nonetheless working to evaluate the injury, however says it might possible be within the tens of millions of {dollars}.
Sawyer Level is closed for security because of the fireplace. The Sawyer Level Pickleball Courts can even be closed via the weekend.
The Ohio Division of Transportation has added a brand new web page to their web site that may replace folks on the standing of the bridge. For extra info, click on right here.
MAJOR TRAFFIC IMPACTS
Ohio Site visitors Impacts and Detours
ODOT is diverting southbound I-471 site visitors from Ohio by the use of I-71 and I-75 South. As well as, the next restrictions are in place in downtown Cincinnati:
- Liberty Road entry to I-471 is closed.
- 5th Road entry to I-471 is closed.
- S. 50 East and West entry to I-471 is closed. (U.S. 50 stays open to through site visitors.)
- Pete Rose Method/Riverside Drive is closed below the method.
- Eastbound Pete Rose Method motorists could use Eggleston Road.
- Westbound Riverside Drive (U.S. 52) ought to divert to Columbia Parkway (U.S. 50).
For dwell site visitors updates, click on right here.
Residents are requested to steer clear of Sawyer Level Park because the investigation into the fireplace continues.
VIDEO SHOWS THE BRIDGE ENGULFED IN FLAMES
Viewer video reveals the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge up in flames earlier than crews had been capable of put out the fireplace.
“You may hear the popping,” one viewer mentioned in a video despatched to WLWT.
One other from the next vantage level reveals simply how a lot of the bridge caught fireplace Friday morning.
