As a reminder, a contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to add a westbound work zone lane restriction on the Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge near the 29 mile marker starting today.
Through the day, the contractor will set up traffic control to restrict all westbound traffic to one-lane, with traffic initially moved to the right-hand or driving lane. There will be several westbound rolling roadblocks today and Wednesday to assist with the work zone set-up. Some delays are possible.
Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. As a reminder, eastbound traffic in this work zone is already restricted to one lane.
This is the third of several traffic phases for this major bridge rehab project that will continue through 2024. The initial work is for joint replacement, to be followed by cleaning and painting of the steel arch, as well as other general bridge rehab and maintenance.
Traffic will be shifted in phases about every 20 days through March to facilitate the required work. The work zone will transition to two -11 ft. lanes of traffic in each direction before April 8, when a Total Solar Eclipse is expected to generate heavy traffic through the region.
The work zone includes a 55 mile-per-hour speed limit, enhanced enforcement, and double fines. It includes interactive traffic monitoring with portable message boards that automatically alert motorists when traffic backups develop.
Local commuters who travel this section of I-24 are asked to self-detour via U.S. 62 and KY 453 between Calvert City Exit 27 and Grand Rivers Exit 31 to help reduce the likelihood of delays – particularly during peak travel periods.
Please be alert for frequent updates on the traffic configuration as the work progresses.
Spartan Contracting is the prime contractor on this $16,353,000 bridge rehabilitation and maintenance project. The target completion date for all work is December 1, 2024.
The Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge consists of twin tied-arch suspension bridges at I-24 mile point 29.352 at the Marshall-Livingston County Line.
The 2,017 ft. bridge with a 534 ft. main span is also known as the Luther Draffen Bridge. The bridge opened to traffic in 1974. The twin structures carry approximately 30,000 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.
The bridge is at Tennessee River navigation mile point 21.1, about a mile below Kentucky Dam.
To get traffic advisories and alerts for this project and others via email, please go to https://public.govdelivery.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1
Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov, at waze.com, or with the WAZE App.