A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a joint replacement
project along the westbound lanes of the Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge
starting Thursday, March 2, 2017.
Last fall, the KYTC District 1 Bridge Crew made several attempts to repair a joint
on the westbound lanes of the I-24 Tennessee River Bridge at the Marshall-Livingston
County Line. Facing continued issues with the ailing joint, engineers were forced
to restrict traffic to one lane at the site until the joint could be replaced.
Engineers developed a project to replace the joint, but the work had to wait for
steel to be fabricated and for weather to improve to allow installation.
While westbound traffic on the bridge has been restricted to one lane traffic since
mid-December, when the contractor arrives on Thursday a barrier wall will be
installed to provide a safe working space on the bridge deck. Once the barrier wall
is in place, work to replace the joint is expected to begin immediately.
All westbound traffic will continue to move to the left-hand or passing lane in this
work zone. Westbound motorists on I-24 should continue to be alert for slowing and
merging traffic as they approach the 30 mile marker. This is along I-24 westbound
just west of the KY 453 Grand Rivers Exit 31 Interchange and about 5 miles east of
the I-24/Purchase Parkway Exit 25 Interchange work zone.
Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel
are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.
Judy Harp Contracting is the prime contractor on this deck expansion joint
replacement project. Work on the westbound bridge is expected to take about 30 to
45 days to complete, weather permitting. The contractor will then move to the
eastbound lanes for replacement of a joint on the eastbound I-24 Tennessee River
Bridge.
The Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge is a twin tied arch suspension structure at
I-24 milepoint 29.352 at the Marshall-Livingston County Line.
The 2,017 ft. structures with a 534 ft. main span are also known as the Luther
Draffen Bridge. The bridges opened to traffic in 1974. The bridge carries
approximately 30,000 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are
available by going to
www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1<http://www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1>. You do not
have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
Timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties of KYTC Highway District 2 are
available by going to
www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2<http://www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2>. You do not
have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov or with the WAZE App at WAZE.com.