Mastering the Maze of Utility Design and Coordination

The Brent Spence Bridge project is a monumental endeavor that will transform interstate travel across the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The fast-paced $3.6 billion progressive design-build project involves two separate design firms and two state departments of transportation (Ohio Department of Transportation and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet). The project includes the addition of a new river crossing companion bridge, significant improvements to the existing bridge, and major upgrades to surrounding roadways. Walsh Kokosing, the joint-venture contractor, selected Gresham Smith to lead utility coordination and design across the entire scope of the project.

In our role working across state lines, we coordinate with over 30 primary utility company contacts, and as of early 2026, we have identified over 400 utility conflicts. From the beginning, our staff has analyzed design plans, identifying potential utility conflicts needing further investigation and guiding utility companies with their relocation designs. While untangling the complex web of facilities within the scope of the project, we have designed multiple joint trenches to house separate utilities into a single duct bank, which lessens the utility footprint in the most congested areas.