AURORA, Ky. (August 31, 2016) — To celebrate the addition of four-lane traffic on the new U.S. 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet hosted a Bridge Day event on the unopened eastbound lanes of the bridge today. While two-way traffic continued running on what will become the westbound lanes, an estimated crowd of 2,000 people walked along the new bridge to get an up close and personal look at the new structure. At noon, many gathered in the center of the bridge for a brief ceremony and ribbon cutting. Kentucky State Highway Engineer Patty Dunaway said the new $133 million structure is expected to serve for another 75 to 100 years. Dunaway also pointed to the potential the new bridge provides to enhance economic development. “Just as the opening of the old bridge created new transportation opportunities for the region in the 1930’s, this new bridge will create an opportunity for new commerce, that in turn will serve to create new jobs and support a thriving economy,” Dunaway said. While the addition of two eastbound lanes of traffic is completed on the new bridge, westbound traffic is expected to remain one lane for several days while crews water-blast away traffic striping and new permanent traffic stripes are added. Trail connections for a multi-use path along the bridge are expected to continue for another six to eight weeks. A tourism-oriented event is planned at that time to emphasize the new recreation opportunities the trail system will provide. Additional finish work, including architectural lighting on the bridge structure, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The new bridge is one of only a few bridges in the United States to feature a basket handle arch design. The prime contractor of the new Eggners Ferry Bridge project is the Johnson Brothers Corporation of Ft. Worth, Texas, a Southland Company. A twin bridge less than nine miles away is under construction in Canton. The $128.3 million structure is on the new US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge and is contracted by PCL Civil Construction of Denver. It is expected to be ready for initial traffic in October 2017. “The Lake Bridges Project accomplishes the Cabinet’s mission of delivering economic opportunity and enhancing the quality of life in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Transportation Secretary Greg Thomas. “With the opening of the Eggers Ferry Bridge allowing motorists to travel across Kentucky Lake, we look forward to the completion of the Lake Barkley Bridge next year.” KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Mike McGregor gave a history of what started as a river ferry crossing and has evolved into a modern four-lane bridge. “Eggners Ferry was originally run by the Egner family who came to the area in the 1840’s. It was spelled with one G. During the War Between the States, Confederate Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman mentioned Eggners Ferry in a dispatch that warned of Union forces on their way to Murray. General Tilghman spelled it with two G's and the alternate spelling stuck,” McGregor said. Built as a toll bridge, McGregor said the original toll card indicated passenger cars were charged 25 cents to cross and livestock on the hoof was listed at 5 cents per head. Then, the average vehicle was a Model “A” Ford and the largest trucks weighed 28 tons. The existing U.S. 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge initially opened to traffic in March 1932. In 1943, the bridge was closed for six months to allow the bridge to be raised to accommodate higher water levels due to the impounding of Kentucky Lake. In January 2012, a 322 ft. span of the old Eggners Ferry Bridge was struck and knocked into the Kentucky Lake by the Delta Mariner cargo ship. KYTC engineers developed plans to rebuild the missing span and restore traffic to the bridge in 17 weeks. The existing Eggners Ferry Bridge was reopened to traffic in 2012 prior to Memorial Day. Approximately 3,000 vehicles cross the existing Eggners Ferry Bridge daily.
