A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans work zone lane restrictions on the U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge Kentucky approach levee starting sometime the week of June 1, 2020
This initial work zone along the U.S. 51 Kentucky approach levee includes levee maintenance and roadway improvements from mile point 4.873 at the end of the Willow Slough “Mile Long” Bridge extending westward to mile point 6.658 near the Minor Slough Bridge. This 1.77 mile section includes several phases of work that will ramp up over the next month. As weather conditions and prep work allows, the contractor will attempt to provide advance notice of the actual work zone start date.
Motorists should be prepared to encounter an extended section of one-lane traffic with alternating flow initially controlled by flaggers. As the project ramps up, alternating traffic will be controlled by an automated signal.
A second round of work is expected to start sometime during the week of June 8. This will add an extended work zone lane restriction on the U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge to allow deck and joint work. This work zone on the bridge will include an 8 ft. 6-inch maximum load width restriction. The contractor will attempt to provide a specific start date for the load width restriction as prep work and weather conditions allow the construction schedule to firm up.
Work on the bridge includes a concrete deck overlay and replacement of joints. The bridge work will be phased in segments with one-lane traffic and alternating flow controlled by an automated signal.
Motorists and truckers should be aware that as work ramps up, delays are likely in this work zone through the summer construction season due to the two extended sections of one-lane traffic. There will be a strictly enforced work zone speed limit with an enhanced enforcement presence.
Intech Contracting, LLC, is the prime contractor on this $8,060,092 project. The target completion date is October 1, 2020.
The U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge carries U.S. 51, U.S. 60, and U.S. 62 traffic across the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois at U.S. 51 Kentucky mile point 7.372.
Also known as The Cairo Bridge, the structure carries approximately 4,700 vehicles across the Ohio River each day between Wickliffe, KY, and Cairo, IL. It connects with the U.S. 60/U.S. 62 Mississippi River Bridge that connects Illinois and Missouri.
The U.S. 51 Ohio River opened to traffic on November 11, 1936. The Cairo-Wickliffe Bridge is at Ohio River navigation mile point 980.4.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1
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