Clay Wade Bailey Bridge

The Clay Wade Bailey Bridge is a cantilever bridge crossing the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. It carries six traffic lanes and serves as a major connection point between the two states.

Construction began in the early 1970s under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and opened to traffic in 1974. The project was built to address growing transportation demands between the two communities.

The structure is named after a newspaper reporter who advocated for better regional transportation links. You will notice the bridge is heavily used by commuters crossing between the two states daily.

Traffic is heaviest during morning and evening rush hours when commuters travel between the two cities. The bridge is open year-round, though winter weather can affect driving conditions.

The bridge uses a cantilever design that keeps support structures out of the water by distributing weight across extended horizontal beams. This approach was chosen to minimize disruption to the river below.

Location: Kentucky

Inception: October 1974

Official opening: October 1974

GPS coordinates: 39.09110,-84.51930

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:47