Enforcement of bridge weight limit stepped up

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Area law enforcement agencies have stepped up enforcement of the three-ton weight limit on the U.S. 60 Tennessee River bridge between Paducah and Ledbetter. The bridge was reduced to a three-ton maximum load limit last week after a review of the structure’s most recent inspection report mandated the restriction.

Over the last few days enforcement agencies have received a number of reports of vehicles exceeding the weight limit crossing the bridge. Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department have responded by stepping up enforcement at the bridge this week.

There are multiple signs on each side of the bridge, including message boards, that clearly communicate the three-ton limit to drivers as they approach the bridge from all directions. Officers say a basic citation for violation of the load limit carries a fine and court costs of $245.  Additional fines may be included for drivers of commercial vehicles that are cited for violating the load limit.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers have placed the bridge on an accelerated inspection schedule. The bridge will now be examined by inspectors every 30 days. The three-ton load limit is to help maintain the safety of the 81-year old bridge while a new $93 million bridge is being constructed upstream. Construction of the new bridge is expected to be complete in mid-2014.

Also known as the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, the existing US 60 Tennessee River bridge connects McCracken County to Livingston County between Paducah and Ledbetter. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1931 and carries approximately 7,700 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.