The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans joint walk-through inspections with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on Ohio River Bridges across the region starting Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
These walk-through inspections will require work zone lane restrictions at the following dates and times:
Wednesday, Sept 9
US 41 Twin Bridges between Henderson and Evansville starting at 9:30 a.m., CDT on the southbound bridge. This work zone will move to the northbound bridge about 1:00 p.m. All traffic will move to the left-hand or passing lane. Inspectors anticipate each work zone lane restriction will last about 2 hours.
Thursday, Sept 10
US 231 Ohio River “William Natcher” Bridge between Owensboro and Rockport starting at 8:00 a.m., CDT, on the southbound lanes only. Inspectors anticipate the work zone for southbound traffic being in place for about 2 hours.
Thursday, Sept 10
KY 2262/IN Route 161 Ohio River “Blue” Bridge at Owensboro starting at 1:00 p.m., CDT. This will be a moving work zone with a short lane restriction that is expected to be on the bridge for about 90 minutes.
Friday, Sept 11
KY 69/IN Route 237 Ohio River “Bob Cummings-Lincoln Trail” Bridge between Hawesville and Cannelton starting at 8:30 a.m., CDT. This work zone lane restriction is expected to be in place for about 2 hours.
Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach the US 41 Twin Bridges and the US 231 Natcher Bridge. On all 2-lane bridges motorists should be alert for one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers.
Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and inspection personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.
All bridges get a detailed inspection every 2 years. Long-span bridges over rivers and lakes in Kentucky get an extra annual inspection.
Engineers from KYTC and INDOT use the walk-through inspections to discuss and plan future maintenance projects on jointly-owned river crossings. The states share the cost of maintenance on bridges that connect across the Ohio River.