Repairs to the U.S. 68 / Ky. 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge are on track for reopening of the damaged bridge in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
Crews from Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc., lifted a new truss span into place on Tuesday. Friday, they placed the last of the reinforcing steel and forms required for pouring a concrete deck on the new span this weekend.
Due to the amount of truck traffic the concrete work will generate, barricades will be up at each end of the bridge and access will be restricted. The public will be able to watch the work from Ken Lake State Resort Park.
The Eggners Ferry Bridge crosses Kentucky Lake between Marshall and Trigg counties. A 322-foot span of the bridge was destroyed when struck by an 8,200-ton cargo ship on the night of Jan. 26. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) awarded an emergency contract for the repair project to Hall Contracting. The contract specifies a deadline of Sunday, May 27, for completion of repairs and reopening the bridge to traffic.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Jim LeFevre said security will be stepped up around the bridge this weekend to maintain safety at the site. While recognizing there is a lot of public interest in the work, LeFevre asked that everyone stay off the bridge and its approaches to help speed the work and avoid creating safety hazards.
