Taylor-Southgate Bridge

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NBI Information

Location

State: Kentucky

County: Campbell County, Kentucky

Feature Carried: US-27)

Feature Crossed: Ohio River

Latitude, Longitude: 39.0961,-84.5014

Toll: On free road

Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency

Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction

History

Year Built: 1995

Historical Significance: Bridge is possibly eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (requires further investigation before determination can be made) or bridge is on a State or local historic register.

Year Reconstructed: None

Picture Date: April 24, 2026

Geometry

Lanes on Structure: 4

Lanes under Structure: 6

Skew: 0 degrees

Number of Main Spans: 3

Main Structure Type: Truss - Thru

Main Structure Material: Steel Continuous

Number of Approach Spans: 6

Approach Structure Type: Stringer/Multi-beam or Girder

Approach Structure Material: Prestressed Concrete Continuous

Condition

Inspection Date: October 2024

Deck Condition: Satisfactory

Superstructure Condition: Satisfactory

Substructure Condition: Satisfactory

Channel Condition: Good

Culvert: Not Applicable

NBI Year: 2025

Bridge Information

The Taylor-Southgate Bridge is a continuous warren through truss bridge that was built in 1995. It carries U.S. Route 27 across the Ohio River, connecting Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The original bridge at this site was the Cincinnati-Newport Bridge, commonly known as the Central Bridge. It opened on August 29, 1891, and was the only cantilevered truss of its kind in the United States. The bridge featured a three-span cantilever Warren through truss, two Pennsylvania through trusses, and a Pratt through truss. It carried a roadway, two streetcar tracks, and two sidewalks. By the 1970’s, this bridge was showing signs of aging and deterioration. By the 1980’s, the bridge was in critical condition, and the decision was made to replace it. It was closed on February 17, 1992, and was demolished in the following months. Construction of the new bridge began the following year.

The Central Bridge was adorned with beautiful plaques and decorative portal cresting, as well as decorative knees on the portal bracing. In contrast, the Taylor-Southgate Bridge is plain and unadorned. This is especially unusual, as most other cities have opted for more elegant designs to act as symbols for the city.

The bridge is named after James Taylor, Jr. and Richard Southgate, two important early settlers of Newport.