One of the main connections between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky could be closed for weeks after a fire under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge damaged its steel structure, officials said Friday.
The blaze at the Sawyer Point 1000 Hands Playground, which sits under the bridge, was initially reported at 3:20 a.m., Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley said. The flames reached more than 40 feet and set fires on the bridge as well. Officials said about 60 firefighters were sent to fight the inferno.
The massive fire caused significant damage to the Ohio approach to the bridge which could take days or even weeks to repair and will likely cost millions of dollars, according to Matt Bruning, the Ohio Department of Transportation press secretary.
“At least three beams will need to be replaced on that portion of the structure,” Bruning said. A portion of the road deck and a sign truss will also need to be replaced.
Inspectors are hoping to assess the northbound lanes of the bridge soon. That part of the bridge will likely reopen first, Bruning said. He said it was too early to provide a timeline.
The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, also known locally as the Big Mac Bridge, was dedicated in 1977 and carries an estimated 97,900 vehicles across the Ohio River each day. Interstate 471 was closed between the bridge and Interstate 275 on Friday. All of the access points from Cincinnati to I-471 were closed as well.
McKinley said the cause and origin of the fire are under investigation.
“We haven’t ruled anything out,” McKinley said.
McKinley said the playground was full of wood and synthetic materials causing a fire that likely reached several thousand degrees. The ground was covered in a spongy synthetic mat, according to Rocky Merz at the Cincinnati Parks Department.
There were no reports of injuries. Officials said no hazardous materials were released as a result of the blaze and no vehicles were damaged.
The small fires at the playground rekindled throughout the morning. There were open flames at the site as late as 9:30 a.m., about six hours after the initial blaze. At 11 a.m., McKinley said the fire was extinguished.
More:Here are other bridges to cross the Ohio River
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Reporter Patricia Gallagher Newberry contributed to this report. This story was updated to add a video.
