One year since the Big Mac Bridge fire: What officials have learned, future plans

CINCINNATI — In the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2024, flames engulfed a portion of the Big Mac Bridge after a wooden playground below the bridge was set on fire.

The fire destroyed massive steel girders that supported the bridge, leading to a 100-day closure.

“I’ve dealt with some emergencies, but nothing to this scale,” said Kathleen Fuller, Public Information Officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 8.

One year since the Big Mac Bridge fire: What officials have learned, future plans

According to ODOT, closing and repairing the bridge cost $8.83 million; the original estimate was $10 million .

The closure also caused traffic jams on different highways and roads as tens of thousands of drivers changed their routes.

Now, one year later, I asked offic