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Building & Construction
Covington Plaza portion of six-city Riverfront Commons project completed
By NICHOLETTE CARLSON | The Municipal
Running along the Ohio River, northern Kentucky is working on a multi-city walking and biking path connecting six cities. This 11.5-mile path, known as the Riverfront Commons project, will connect Ludlow in the west and Ft. Thomas in the east and include Covington, Newport, Bellevue and Dayton. This project will provide intersecting, uninterrupted pathways to all six Southbank cities and the attractions in each. Some of these attractions include crossing the Purple People Bridge to walk or bike the trails in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Licking River Greenway in northern Kentucky and Devou Park in Covington. The benefits of developing these areas include ecosystem restoration, riverside stabilization, economic development and recreation. The Covington riverfront east and center portion of the project was set to have an economic impact of $76 million with 198 jobs created. These paths will connect Licking River to Madison Avenue. It will 50 THE MUNICIPAL | OCTOBER 2021
also connect Covington center and east to Covington west and downtown Covington. Work on this portion of the project helped to stabilize the shoreline along the Licking and Ohio rivers and divert debris. This portion also will protect utility access while allowing pedestrians and vehicles access to the river with walking paths, bike trails, driving lanes and a docking facility. The Newport riverfront west section has a planned economic impact of $1 billion with 6,700 jobs created. These paths will connect Veterans Memorial Bridge to Taylor Southgate Bridge. A pedestrian bridge will connect to Covington. These paths will connect tourism, retail, entertainment, office and
The Covington Plaza took a little less than two years to complete after flooding delays with the Ohio River. This is a significant portion of the six-city Riverfront Commons project. (Photo provided by Prus Construction)
residential opportunities with the river and a docking facility will promote marine tourism and recreation. This section in Newport will also help to stabilize the shoreline along the Licking and Ohio rivers and enhance the existing waterfront park. With an estimated economic impact of $178 million and 379 jobs created, the Newport Festival Park and Riverboat Row portion of the project will connect the Newport levee to Bellevue. This section will stabilize the shoreline along commercial and residentially developed riverfronts while also enhancing and protecting the sewer infrastructure. These pathways will also provide a link for pedestrians and bicyclists from nearby residences to entertainment, retail and office developments.
