Skip to content
Combs-Hehl Bridges

Combs-Hehl Bridges

Published November 20, 2025 By Sherman Cahal

The Combs-Hehl Bridges carry Interstate 275 over the Ohio River between Campbell County, Kentucky, and Hamilton County, Ohio.

The Combs-Hehl Bridges carry Interstate 275 over the Ohio River via a pair of cantilevered Warren through trusses between Campbell County, Kentucky, and Hamilton County, Ohio.

Table Of Contents
  1. History
  2. Gallery

History

Planning for a freeway beltway around Cincinnati began in the early 1950s. Separate concepts in Ohio and Kentucky were eventually combined into what became known as the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area Bypass. 1

By the late 1950s, the project had been renamed the Circle Freeway. In March 1962, the highway departments of Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana announced plans for an 80-mile, $153 million freeway encircling Cincinnati. 2 The design incorporated the 21.3-mile Circle Freeway already underway in northern Hamilton County and an additional 33 miles previously approved by the Bureau of Public Roads.

Work on the substructure of the new bridge began in 1968, 3 6 with the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh undertaking the $2.2 million contract to install the piers. 6

The first superstructure contract was awarded in May 1972. 5 The bridge project, led by the Kentucky State Highway Department, ultimately cost $30.5 million and required 12,000 tons of steel.

The Combs-Hehl Bridges opened to traffic on December 19, 1979. 3 They were named for former Kentucky Governor Bert T. Combs and Campbell County Judge-Executive Lambert Hehl. The dedication ceremony included prayers offered by ministers from northern Kentucky churches, artillery salutes by units of the Kentucky National Guard, and remarks by Kentucky officials alongside representatives of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The 1,400-foot twin spans formed the final link in the Interstate 275 beltway project around Cincinnati, which had begun in 1958. 3 4 The 86-mile Circle Freeway connected Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. 4

Repairs

A $2.2 million steel repair project on the bridge began on September 28, 2025. 7 The work followed a federally required 2023 inspection of older bridges constructed with T-1 steel, a treated steel known for being highly amenable to welding and machining. Inspectors from the Michael Baker International Corporation tested 300 welds and identified 16 locations for future repair. Although the findings did not pose an immediate safety concern, the project was initiated to address them proactively. In addition to the T-1 steel repairs, crews will complete several stringer repairs. The work is scheduled to be finished by February 2026.

Gallery

Details

  • State: Kentucky, Ohio
  • Route: Interstate 275
  • Status: Active (Automobile)
  • Type: Warren Through Truss
  • Total Length: 1441'×2
  • Main Span Length: 720'×2
  • Deck Width: 51.2'×2
  • Roadway Width: 50.3'×2
  • Above Vertical Clearance: 18'×2
  • Navigational Clearance:

Sources

  1. “Interstate 275 – Cincinnati, Ohio Beltway.” Interstate-Guide.com, 27 Sept. 2016.
  2. “Governors Urge Freeway To Encircle Cincinnati.” Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 1962, p. 1.
  3. Gionutsos, Pete. “Final link complete as twin bridges open.” Cincinnati Post, 19 Dec. 1979, p. 13.
  4. Harasim, Paul H. “The last link.” Cincinnati Post, 1 Dec. 1979, p. 25.
  5. “Combs-Hehl Twin Bridges To Be Dedicated Dec. 19th.” Falmouth Outlook, 14 Dec. 1979, p. 1.
  6. “Bridging the River.” Kentucky Post, 4 Jul. 1968, p. 14K.
  7. “Steel repairs on Combs-Hehl Bridge in Campbell County begin tonight.” Northern Kentucky Tribune, 28 Sept. 2025.

Leave a Reply