PADUCAH, Ky. (July 30, 2019) — A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a work zone lane restriction on the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland on Thursday, August 1, 2019.
This work zone lane restriction is to allow the contractor to repair guardrail along the bridge deck. Motorists should be alert for one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers from approximately 8 a.m., CDT, to about mid-afternoon, Thursday.
This work is scheduled on a weather permitting basis.
As a reminder, the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge has a reduced load limit.
The load limits on the bridge are:
- Type 1: 17 tons—Two axle single unit trucks
- Type 2: 18 tons—Three axle single unit trucks
- Type3: 20 tons—Four axle single unit trucks
- Type 4: 32 tons—Five axle SEMI trucks
- Single Unit Vehicle with five axles: 22 tons
- Single Unit Vehicle with 6 axles: 22 tons
- Single Unit Vehicle with 7+ axles: 24 tons
The new load rating represents a three to eight ton reduction for most truck classes. The load limit is posted at each end of the bridge structure.
KYTC engineers are planning a repair project with the goal of returning the bridge to a normal 40-ton load limit.
The U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland, also known as the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial Bridge and the Smithland Bridge, is at U.S. 60 Livingston County mile point 12.697. The 1,817 ft. through truss structure was opened to traffic in 1931.
The U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland is at Cumberland River navigation mile point 2.7.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is in final design phase for construction of a new bridge immediately downstream from the existing structure. The new $45 million bridge is expected to be ready for bidding in February 2020 with construction expected to take about two years to complete.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
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