Minton span won’t be ready for rush hour Monday

Work continues on the Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville and officials said it will not be ready for rush hour Monday as previously believed. (Kentucky Today file photo)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) – While the Sherman Minton Bridge was expected to re-open in time for rush hour Monday, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Indiana Department of Transportation now say that won’t be the case, due to added safety measures and weather delays.

Repair teams on the project are spending the weekend installing stabilizers and redundant bracing as they repair a loose bearing that led to the closure of the double-decker bridge, which carries I-64 and US 150 traffic across the Ohio River between Louisville and southern Indiana. For enhanced safety, a digital monitoring system will be installed to provide continuous, real-time data on the structure throughout the remainder of the Sherman Minton Renewal Project.

“Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of residents and travelers who rely on this important connection between our two states,” said Royce Meredith, Project Manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

Crews have been working around the clock to inspect, troubleshoot and repair a loose bearing that led to the emergency closure of the bridge on July 27.

The bearing connects the steel superstructure components of the 60-year-old bridge to its concrete substructure. As part of the extraordinary repair effort, engineers and contractors are working to secure the bearing to the pier. The complexity of the bridge structure and repair itself has proven to be an added challenge.

INDOT and KYTC engineers are emphasizing that a robust series of inspections which have been ongoing throughout the project will continue throughout the repair work, with safety being the driving factor for opening the bridge.

“This repair, in tandem with the planned rehabilitation, will ensure the safety of the crossing today, throughout the remainder of construction, and for the 30-year service life for which this project was programmed,” said Danny Corbin, Major Project Delivery Project Manager, INDOT.

Engineering and construction crews are working to restore two-way traffic on the bridge’s lower deck as soon as possible. The top deck of the bridge is anticipated to open later once further construction can be completed.

While the Sherman Minton Renewal project is expected to wrap up in 2024, it is not yet known how this latest issue may affect that timetable.

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