US-based consultant and engineer Jacobs has been awarded a contract to deliver key infrastructure for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project (BSBC), US.

The company was selected as part of the Walsh Kokosing Joint Venture Design-Build Team.

It will also serve as the independent companion bridge engineer, performing design checks of the new river crossing.

The BSBC will upgrade Interstates 71 and 75 (motorways) in the states of Kentucky and Ohio, including constructing a new companion bridge, minimising congestion, boosting traffic flow, and preserving vital regional and national transportation routes in the process.

The contract has been valued at $3.1bn by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the state-funded Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Jacobs People and Places Solutions Americas North Region senior vice-president and general manager Chrissy Thom said: “Using previous project experience and local expertise, Jacobs and our joint venture partners are uniquely positioned to deliver the critical design and construction of this vital bi-state interchange.

“By providing commuters, travellers and freight operators with a safe and efficient route to the greater region, the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor will serve the area for decades into the future - driving up productivity and improving the quality of life for the community.”

The Brent Spence Bridge was originally built in 1963 in order to support 80,000 daily vehicle crossings across the Ohio River. The bridge now handles twice as much traffic, causing severe safety concerns and travel delays.

The development will handle this increasing demand by dividing traffic patterns between local commuters and those making longer interstate travel.

The modernised corridor, which connects Covington, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Ohio, is set to benefit the community and the wider region.