Trump rebuild America program sends $67 million to remake I-75 in Boone County

Northern Kentucky will get $67.4 million from the federal government to address traffic problems on Interstate 75.

No, it’s not for the Brent Spence Bridge, that’ll require $2.5 billion, but a little further south in Boone County.

Kentucky was given the money Friday to rebuild two I-75/I-71 interchanges in Boone County as part of President Donald Trump's pledge to rebuild America's infrastructure.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the federal grant to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in a news release.

All exit ramps and onramps at the Union-area Mt. Zion Road and at Ky. 338 Richwood Road exits will be replaced with new double crossover diamond interchanges, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation description of the project.

Construction has to start within 18 months under the terms of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grants program, said Chris Courtney, community relations coordinator for Boone County's government.

There are 89 of these interchanges in the United States, according to divergingdiamond.com, a website devoted to the interchange design.

In the design, two directions of traffic at the interchange cross to opposite sides of the road so left-turning vehicles will get unimpeded access to the highway.

There’s only one other in Kentucky, in Lexington.

KYTC gave the project its own website 75crossings.com. A YouTube video explains the what the new I-75 Mt. Zion and Richwood road interchanges will look like.

McConnell said he was proud to work with Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore and KYTC to secure the federal money.

“Once this project is completed, the improved interstate will better serve the entire region – not only by making travel safer and more efficient for passenger vehicles but also by supporting commercial freight transportation which is vital to thousands of workers at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)," McConnell said.

The new interchanges will increase traffic capacity and improve safety, he said.

“This award for major reconstruction of these two I-75/71 interchanges and additional interstate lanes in Boone County will have a tremendously favorable impact on traffic congestion, safety and the movement of goods and services along this corridor,” said Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore.