Officials have provided an update on the overnight fire that shut down the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, also known as the “Big Mac” bridge, a major transit-heavy section of Interstate 471.
Around 3:30 a.m., emergency services, including about 60 firefighters, were dispatched to a large fire at the 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point, located directly beneath major exits on I-471.
The fire
The steamboat-themed playground located along the Ohio River was made mostly out of wood and plastic. It featured monkey bars, slides, musical instruments, and, of course, a large exploratory wooden steamboat.
When crews got there, the fire had reportedly “completely engulfed” the park.
“Flames were reaching up over the front of the park, up over the bridge, and it was, it was actually doing damage to the bridge,” said Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) Lieutenant Patrick Caton.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is under investigation by the Cincinnati Fire Unit and CPD.
No causes have been ruled out, including any suspicious circumstances, according to Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley.
The fallout
The fire is currently contained, but Caton said certain parts are still smoldering. Firefighters remain at the scene to monitor possible flare-ups, like one that occurred around 8:15 a.m.
No injuries or vehicle damage have been reported as a result of the fire, according to Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Flagler. Utilities are currently being investigated by crews, but appear undamaged.
The bridge itself sustained damage. The southbound side has at least three steel beams that suffered damage, as well as a portion of the bridge deck and a sign truss. Officials say these will all need to be replaced.
Matt Bruning with the Ohio Department of Transportation said, since there is less damage on the northbound side, it could open sooner than the southbound side.
A timeline for repairs and reopening is currently impossible to determine, but Bruning said it could be similar to the six weeks it took to repair the Brent Spence Bridge after its fire in 2020.
“It will not be days,” Bruning said.
If repairs start swiftly, this timeline estimate could set the reopening sometime in mid-December to early January.
At this time, all lanes of I-471 are being blocked at the I-275 interchange, Ramps from I-71 to I-471 southbound, and from U.S. 50 east to I-471 southbound, are also closed.
Other notable closures include access points from downtown Cincinnati to I-471, Pete Rose Way and Riverside Drive near the bridge.
Drivers are advised to use I-275 eastbound or westbound to detour and to access Columbia Parkway via Delta Avenue.
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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 12, 2024.