Wickliffe, Ky.–The US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge will close promptly at 6 p.m. tonight. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released photos of traffic driving through floodwaters on US 51 at the 7mm along the bridge approach levee on the Kentucky side. This is a critical transportation artery for our area.
Once the bridge closes this evening, river predictions indicate it will likely remain closed for about 8 days- longer if there is additional rainfall in the area and upstream.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is advising regular commuters who rely on the bridge to get to and from work in a neighboring state to make advance plans in case traffic has to be halted at the site on short notice.
KYTC District 1 Spokesperson Keith Todd suggested commuters consider staying with friends or relatives closer to work to help avoid a lengthy detour. Some river industries in the Wickliffe-Cairo area have made contingency plans to boat workers back and forth across the river should US 51 have to close.
KYTC engineers are battling two issues at the site. (1) Drift is washing up onto the roadway creating a hazard for passing vehicles, and (2) the low temperature overnight is expected to be about 32 degrees creating the opportunity for ice on the roadway.
Detouring around the site via I-24 and I-57 requires an 80+ mile trip to get from Wickliffe to Cairo
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