Newport construction around concert venue progresses; bridge being installed

NEWPORT, Ky. (FOX19) - If you drive KY-8 in Newport near the new concert venue, you may have to take a detour this weekend.

Saturday morning a portion of KY-8 in Newport will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a pedestrian bridge is put in place to connect a parking garage to the concert venue.

Construction on the Ovation Concert Venue is nearing a close in Newport. This is part of a much larger project including mixed-use development across the street.

“The construction currently will create payroll taxes for Newport,” says former Newport Mayor Jerry Peluso. “Long term it will create a number of jobs that people need.”

Peluso got a tour of the concert venue recently and says he was wowed by it. He says they hope to host concerts here as early as summer.

The large, orange bridge sitting on the side of the road will be off the sidewalk and in place above KY-8 Saturday.

The bridge was also designed with safety in mind to keep concertgoers off the street as they travel across the highway.

They are also building a flood wall to protect whatever may go in the space across the street from the venue. It could be apartments, condos, or even office spaces.

Peluso says not only will this be good for Newport, but the hotels and restaurants in surrounding towns will benefit too.

“The fact that it’s coming to Newport,” explains Peluso, “It will put the city on the map as far as live entertainment is concerned. People from all over the region, all over the United States is going to really take a good look at Newport and our region and see the possibilities and the opportunities and how beautiful this entire area is.”

KY-8 will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday. If you want to come down to Newport and watch crews install the pedestrian bridge, they will have a safe spot for you to do that. The road will reopen no later than 6 p.m. Saturday.

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