Brookport Bridge Work Taking Longer than Expected

The US 45 Ohio River Brookport Bridge is expected to remain closed for about another week. 



Officials now estimate the bridge will be back open around August 4th. Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the Geenway Trail Tunnel Project was scheduled to be completed by Tuesday, however the bridge will remain closed to all traffic for about another week to allow a contractor to complete repairs to a damaged beam.  Todd said engineers had hoped the two projects would end at about the same time, but production of the steel beam delayed the repair work.



On June 18th, KYTC engineers asked the public for information about a vehicle, presumed to be an oversized load, that damaged a beam along the northbound lane on the second span from the Kentucky side of the river.  The damage forced the bridge to be reduced to a 20-ton load limit while repairs were being planned.



With help from the public, transportation officials determined that the damaged beam had been hit within a couple of days of April 30th, but it had gone unreported until June 18th.   Engineers now believe the vehicle was a red truck, most likely hauling a large piece of equipment.



An emergency contract was let, and a new beam fabricated with the hope of completing the work during the closure for the tunnel construction.  KYTC engineers and the contractor have completed as much prep work as possible.  However, Todd said with the time needed to fabricate the required steel, it cannot be delivered until Sunday.  The beam repair is expected to take about a week to complete, weather permitting.



Todd said engineers are optimistic the bridge can be ready for traffic in time for the morning commute on Monday, August 4th.



State highway crews have taken advantage of the closure to perform additional maintenance work on the bridge and bridge approach levees to reduce the need for lane restrictions on the river crossing once it reopens.