Kentucky-Illinois bridge closed by flooding has reopened

WICKLIFFE, Ky. (AP) – An Ohio River bridge linking Kentucky and Illinois that has been closed since Feb. 22 due to flooding has reopened.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says in a statement that the bridge reopened Monday morning.

The bridge connects Wickliffe, Kentucky, and Cairo, Illinois. A detour is almost 90 miles although it is shorter for truckers and cross-country traffic if the route is changed before reaching the bridge. Approximately 4,700 vehicles cross the bridge daily.

The U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge carries north-south traffic connecting, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee along the U.S. 51 corridor. The bridge also carries east-west traffic for U.S. 60 and U.S. 62 that connects Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.

The bridge opened to traffic on Nov. 11, 1936.