HEBRON — Kentucky Transportation Cabinet secretary James Codell on Thursday said the rapid completion of the Interstate 275 reconstruction project was as simple as A-B-C.

        Mr. Codell said the new funding formula that considers (A) cost, (B) incentives and disincentives for on-time performance and (C) warranties, will be used as a model for other projects around the state.

        “The public is a winner with this,” said Mr. Codell at a press conference held to announce that the project was finishing six months early.

        “I see our cabinet and other cabinets really taking to this in the future,” he added.

        Work on the 6.7-mile stretch of road — the major access to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport — should wrap up next week,according to the contractor, W.L. Harding Construction of Hebron.

        The $29.7 million project was originally scheduled to end in June, with additional work orders pushing that date back to August.

        In addition to coming in well before schedule, the project carries a 10-year warranty — the first such contractor guarantee in the state and one of the few in the country.

        W.L. Harding president Mike Shayeson said his company has taken out a $2.9 million bond against any future defects in the concrete.

        The company also will earn a $2.77 million bonus if the project ends by Dec. 15.

        That figure is based on a stipulation that the company would earn up to 3 percent of the contract for coming in 28 days early, and $10,000 per day after that.

        “That's a lot of money, but we feel that it's worth it for the citizens of Northern Kentucky, the Commonwealth and for residents of other states,” Mr. Codell said.

        The bid was also the first in state history where concrete contractors were allowed to bid against asphalt contractors.

        That means the state may be moving toward telling contractors what the project needs but staying out of telling contractors how to do the work.

        “It's the sign of the times,” Mr. Codell said.

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