A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane along Interstate 24 at the 30-mile marker starting Monday, July 17.
I-24 will be restricted to one lane on the Tennessee River Bridge near the 30-mile marker to allow a detailed inspection of the bridge structure.
Inspectors have been working underneath the bridge this week completing as much inspection work as possible without traffic restrictions. Starting Monday, July 17, inspectors will start work on the bridge superstructure. Traffic will be restricted to one lane to allow a UBIV- Under Bridge Inspection Vehicle and other lift equipment on the bridge deck to facilitate the inspection process.
At this time, the inspection team anticipates having a different lane closed each day next week. The work is expected to take about a week to complete, weather permitting.
All Kentucky bridges get a detailed inspection every two years with long-span lake and river bridges getting an extra walk-through inspection annually.
Motorists should use appropriate caution where equipment, flaggers and inspection personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.
The Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge is actually made up of twin tied arch suspension structures at the Marshall-Livingston county line.
The 2,017-foot structures with a 534-foot main span are also known as the Luther Draffen Bridge. The I-24 Tennessee River Bridge opened to traffic in 1974. The structure carries about 30,000 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.