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TRAVEL ADVISORY: Navigating Around Construction Ahead of the Labor Day Weekend

Here’s how to navigate around construction in the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor
COVINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2026) – Headed out to join the fun at Riverfest, a Cincinnati Reds game or any of the other Labor Day festivities happening this holiday weekend in downtown Cincinnati and Covington? Make sure you know the best routes to get where you want to go. A few of the many ways to navigate around construction and access the riverfront are listed below. 
SOUTHBOUND TO DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI AND COVINGTON
Traveling south on I-75 in Ohio, the options to get to downtown Cincinnati include:
  • Freeman Avenue (Exit 1F)
  • Seventh Street (Exit 1E)
  • Fifth Street (Exit 1C)
Continuing south across the Brent Spence Bridge to Covington, use:
  • Fifth Street/Crescent Avenue (Exit 192) or
  • Pike Street/12th Street/MLK Jr. Boulevard (Exit 191)
NORTHBOUND FROM KENTUCKY
Traveling north on I-71/75 in Kentucky, the best route to Covington is the Fifth Street exit (Exit 192).
Continuing north across the Brent Spence Bridge into Cincinnati, motorists may follow: 
  • Fifth Street (Exit 1C) or
  • U.S. 50/West Sixth Street (Exit 1D) to the Linn Street exit
EASTBOUND
When traveling eastbound on U.S. 50/West Sixth Street, the best exits to reach downtown Cincinnati include:
  • Freeman Avenue to Mehring Way
  • Fifth Street
KEEP IN MIND FOR SUNDAY
If you’re driving to the riverfront to see Sunday night’s fireworks, remember that several major bridges will close at varying times throughout the day and evening.  
  • Purple People Bridge: Closes at 8 a.m.
  • Roebling Suspension Bridge: Closes to vehicles and pedestrians at 6 p.m.
  • Taylor Southgate Bridge: Closes to pedestrians using the east side at 9 a.m.; to vehicles at 6 p.m.; and to pedestrians using the west side at 7:30 p.m.
  • Clay Wade Bailey Bridge: Closes to vehicles beginning at 6 p.m., and to pedestrians at 8 p.m.
  • Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (I-471): Local access from Ohio closes at 7 p.m.; north and south ramps to KY 8 (Exit 5) close at 7:30 p.m.
For more information about Riverfest-related local road closures, detours and parking options, refer to City of Cincinnati and City of Covington event pages, or other various media outlets.