By James Pilcher
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two of the region's best-known business leaders are joining forces to continue the push for replacement of the aging Brent Spence Bridge.

SPECIAL REPORT

• COLLISION COURSE: An analysis by The Cincinnati Enquirer and WCPO •Rate your "fear factor" on the Brent Spence Bridge.

William S. Burleigh, chairman of E.W. Scripps Co., and Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Erlanger-based Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Friday said they would co-chair a regional "Bridge Task Force," which is intended to sell the idea of a new structure to the rest of the country.

The new group, which is now soliciting an undetermined number of members, is the strongest sign yet that political and business officials from both Ohio and Kentucky are behind the idea of securing $750 million to replace the 40-year-old span.

A $2.2 million study by Kentucky highway officials is under way to determine how much life is left in the existing bridge, whether the bridge can be replaced or repaired, and potential alignments of a new bridge. Congress is set to begin debate early next year on the major transportation funding law that comes up for renewal every six years or so, meaning that if the region weren't able to secure some funds now, it would take at least another six years.

Most estimates call for 10-12 years to build a new bridge; some estimates give the Brent Spence only 15 years of remaining structural life if nothing is done. In addition, an Enquirer analysis this year showed that the bridge has major traffic safety flaws and a high accident rate.

"If you take that bridge out of the picture, this region becomes dysfunctional," Burleigh said at a meeting of all the area's chambers of commerce. "It is probably the most important building block we have to truly achieve regionalism."

Cuneo said he was not only getting involved for the good of the region but that his business has a stake in the project as well.

"If we couldn't use that bridge, it would cost us alone millions of dollars to go around I-275," Cuneo said. "And Interstate 75 from top to bottom is the most important automotive manufacturing corridor in the country. So we've got to keep it flowing."

U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, D-Richwood, whose district includes the bridge, said at the meeting that any help would be welcome.

"You can't overemphasize the importance of this thing," Lucas said.

E-mail jpilcher@enquirer.com