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    • Daniel Carter Beard Bridge steel beams and deck damaged by massive fire
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    Daniel Carter Beard Bridge steel beams and deck damaged by massive fire

    Umito Posted on

    One of the main routes between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky could be closed for weeks after a fire under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge damaged its steel structure, officials said Friday.

    The fire at Sawyer Point 1000 Hands Playground, which is under the bridge, was initially reported at 3:20 a.m., Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley said. The flames reached more than 40 feet and also set the bridge on fire. Authorities said about 60 firefighters were sent to battle the inferno.

    The massive fire caused significant damage to the approach to the bridge in Ohio, which could take days or even weeks to repair and will likely cost millions of dollars, according to Matt Bruning, press secretary for the Department of Ohio Transportation.

    “At least three beams will need to be replaced on this part of the structure,” Bruning said. Part of the road deck and a signaling truss will also need to be replaced.

    Inspectors hope to assess the northbound lanes of the bridge soon. That part of the bridge will likely reopen first, Bruning said. He said it was too early to provide a timeline.

    The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, also known locally as the Big Mac Bridge, opened in 1977 and carries approximately 97,900 vehicles across the Ohio River each day. Interstate 471 was closed Friday between the bridge and Interstate 275. All access points from Cincinnati to I-471 were also closed.

    McKinley said the cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation.

    “We haven’t ruled anything out,” McKinley said.

    McKinley said the playground was filled with wood and synthetic materials, causing a fire that likely reached several thousand degrees. The ground was covered with a spongy synthetic mat, according to Rocky Merz of the Cincinnati Parks Department.

    No injuries were reported. Authorities said no hazardous materials were released as a result of the fire and no vehicles were damaged.

    The little fires in the playground were lit again throughout the morning. There were open flames at the site until 9:30 a.m., about six hours after the first fire. By 11 a.m., McKinley said the fire was out.

    More: Here are other bridges to cross the Ohio River

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    Journalist Patricia Gallagher Newberry contributed to this report. This story has been updated to add video.

    Umito
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