Hamilton County Commission President Bob Bedinghaus put it more bluntly Tuesday: "There is no need to build another bridge. That would be an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars."

The city report explained that locations discussed for the new bridge won't work for a variety of reasons.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet already has committed to building a new bridge just east of the Clay Wade Bailey to relieve overcrowding on the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge.

But a bridge there would cross over the Cincinnati Bengals planned riverfront practice fields, and the team has objected. Kentucky officials have agreed to halt plans for that bridge until a regional study of I-71 is completed, the report says.

The alternative to that location was a bridge connecting Madison Avenue in Covington to Race Street in Cincinnati. But Covington officials have had second thoughts, and Cincinnati riverfront planners don't like that idea either because it would "bisect" the city's riverfront.

Instead, Covington proposed a bridge connecting Johnson Street in Covington to Central Avenue in Cincinnati. That, too, would cross over the football complex, and the county and team have objected.

Mr. Bedinghaus said the bridge issue "has little to do with the Bengals stadium and much to do with the real need for an additional bridge that would clutter up our river."

Mr. Hamner's report states Kentucky officials already have budgeted $55 million for building a new bridge, and that money should be used to make improvements to the old ones instead.