The four-barge flotilla that transported the 5-million pound structure was removed Thursday afternoon, and the four jacking towers were either lowered or completely moved from the site.
That cleared the way for commercial and pleasure boat traffic to resume on the lower Cumberland River.
The traffic light on US 60 that restricted the existing bridge was also removed.
KYTC said that the new truss will have to sit on its piers for at least a month before the concrete deck can begin to be installed. After that six-month operation, the new bridge will be on schedule to be ready for traffic next spring.
Once the new bridge is put into use, demolition of the old bridge will soon follow.
ORIGINAL STORY:
It took a little longer than expected, but the 700-foot bridge truss spanning the Cumberland River in Smithland is in place.
The truss, weighing in at 5.1 million pounds, was placed atop bridge piers at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The next step for the crew from American Bridge is to remove jacking towers so they can move the flotilla away and clear the area.
Sometime in the next 60 days, Jim Smith Contracting will begin construction of the bridge's concrete deck. They are anticipating about six months to finish the deck, meaning the bridge could be ready for traffic in the spring of 2023.
The target date for the final completion of the $63 million project is December 1st, 2023.
(Photo courtesy KYTC)
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