New US 60 bridge at Smithland opens to traffic

The new US 60 Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge at Smithland opened to traffic on Monday.

Monday was a big one for the citizens of Livingston County. Not only did Governor Beshear come bringing funding for a number of projects, but he and Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray joined local officials in cutting the ribbon on the $63 million bridge over the Cumberland. 

Gray said, "This is a bridge that is about removing obstacles and creating connections... think about it, a bridge... and it's done it for Livingston County, it's done it for western Kentucky."

The bridge is named in honor of Jim R. Smith, a Livingston County native, whose company, now run by his son Rex, was the lead contractor on the construction project. Smith said his father would be humbled at the honor of having this key piece of infrastructure for Livingston County named for him. 

A sizeable crowd of residents along with local and state officials walked the length of the 1900-foot structure including the 700-foot long blue truss before the ribbon was cut. By 5:45 p.m. the final barricades came down and vehicle traffic started rolling across the 40-foot wide deck.

The neighboring 1931 structure is slated to be demolished in August.