Cairo Bridge expected to re-open March 11
WICKLIFFE, Ky. (WTVQ)- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says that engineers are hopeful the Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge could reopen to traffic sometime during the day Monday, March 11, based on floodwater levels and conditions.
Floodwaters along the Kentucky approach to the bridge forced the critical transportation link to close at 4:00 p.m., on Friday, February 22nd. The closure turned a normal 5 mile commute between Wickliffe, KY, and Cairo, IL, into an almost 90 mile detour. The detour is shorter for truckers and cross-country travelers who adjust their travel route before reaching the bridge.
The US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge carries north-south traffic connecting Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee along the US 51 corridor. The bridge also carries east-west traffic for US 60 and US 62 that connects Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri.
Approximately 4,700 vehicles across the bridge each day; about 35% of that is truck traffic. The nearest alternate river crossings are the I-24 Ohio River Bridge at Paducah, KY, and the Interstate 155 Mississippi River Bridge at Dyersburg, TN.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet sent out traffic notices to alert trucking companies, truck organizations, and travelers across the nation of the extended closure created by floodwaters.
Strong currents and floodwaters that were up to 3 feet deep along about a 2-mile section of the levee stripped away gravel and soil at the edge of the pavement. As floodwaters have started to drop over the last few days, KYTC maintenance personnel have hauled about 500 tons of asphalt millings to reinforce the shoulder as portions of the roadway became accessible. The KYTC District 1 Bridge Crew has also worked to patch areas along the bridge deck while the crossing has been closed by floodwaters.
Engineers are anticipating floodwaters will drop enough over the weekend to allow the pavement and road base to dry some by Monday. Engineers are concerned that allowing heavy traffic back on the roadway too soon could create a bigger problem by damaging the driving surface and perhaps even the levee itself. Engineers continue to check the levee several times a day over the weekend. It normally takes about half a day to clear mud, debris and drift from the pavement, make final repairs, and complete a detailed inspection of the levee to prepare the roadway for traffic to resume.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will attempt to provide timely notice when floodwaters drop enough to allow the US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge to reopen. Again, engineers are optimistic that could be sometime during the day on Monday, March 11th.
Engineers are also monitoring US 51 south of Wickliffe near the Ballard-Carlisle County Line which had to be closed shortly after floodwaters covered the approach to the US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge.
Also known as The Cairo Bridge, the US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge between Wickliffe, KY, and Cairo, IL, carries US 51, US 60, and US 62 traffic across the Ohio River at US 51 Kentucky mile point 7.372. The bridge is forced to close when floodwaters cover US 51 at the 7 mile marker near the Kentucky end of the structure.
The US 51 Ohio River Bridge was constructed by the Cairo Bridge Commission as a toll facility and opened to traffic on November 11, 1936. Tolls were removed from the crossing on November 11, 1948, when the highway departments of Kentucky and Illinois took over maintenance of the structure.
The Cairo-Wickliffe Bridge is at Ohio River navigation mile point 980.4.
Information on other highway closures across Western Kentucky can be found at www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. The latest KY Highway Water Over Road Report for District 1 is pinned to the top of the page. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
Navigate Traffic at GoKY.KY.Gov or at WAZE.com or via the WAZE App.
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