Violations of weight restriction threaten to close U.S. 60 bridge to all traffic

Over-rotated and deteriorated rockers connected to piers at the
base of the structure are just part of the problems that led to a
three-ton weight restriction on the U.S. 60 Tennessee River
bridge at Paducah.

More than 60 citations have been written to violators of the strict three-ton weight limit on the U.S. 60 Tennessee River bridge at Paducah, but local official and law enforcement are still concerned at the very real possibility that the span could be closed to all traffic if load limits continue to be exceeded.

Representatives of area law enforcement agencies met today to determine how to best enhance enforcement of the load restriction on the bridge, built in 1931.

While there has been a fairly continuous law enforcement presence at the bridge since the load limit was placed on the structure, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) and participating agencies have continued to get reports of trucks and large commercial vehicles crossing the bridge during hours when police are not present.

Last night, Livingston Fiscal Court discussed ways of supporting the enforcement effort on their side of the span to make it less likely the bridge would have to be closed to all traffic. Livingston County Sheriff Bobby Davidson, McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden, KyTC engineers and representatives of the Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement also met today to better coordinate enforcement of the weight limit.

State police and vehicle enforcement units have written 23 citations for violation of the weight limit in nine days. McCracken County deputies wrote more than two dozen citations during that period, and Livingston County deputies estimated they have also written more than two dozen citations.
The minimum fine and court costs for violating the load limit is about $245, with several trucks having received additional citations for up to $600. State police reported one truck had been even cited twice for violating the load limit.

Livingston County Judge-Executive Chris Lasher expressed concern that if violations continue, the bridge would have to be closed to all traffic. KyTC highway engineers indicated that would be an option if trucks and other large vehicles continue to ignore the load limit.

Engineers continue developing plans to make some repairs to the structure in order to improve the likelihood that it can remain open to passenger vehicles and empty standard pickup trucks until a new bridge being constructed just upstream can be completed in mid-2014.