The 700-foot steel truss for the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge in Smithland is — depending on weather and river conditions — expected to be floated into position, and placed, September 12-14.
Furthermore, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Jim Smith Contracting, American Bridge Company and the U.S. Coast Guard have made arrangements for a public viewing area during the 3-day move and installation process.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat said public access will be located at the north end of the construction site. Visitors can walk up on the north bridge approach and watch the truss being raised into place. Parking will be available along the new bridge’s location, as well as the Livingston County Fairgrounds across U.S. 60.
The existing bridge will be reduced to one-lane traffic, with automated signals being used during the entire operation.
Most of the construction will be a slow process, with the bulk of activity coming September 13-14. After being floated more than 10 miles upstream on the Ohio and into the Cumberland River, the 700-foot, 5.2 million-pound truss will be raised 90 feet into the air before being placed on main piers. American Bridge assembled the 700-foot structure on 4-jumbo barges at the Paducah Riverport.
Public access will be controlled by KYTC maintenance personnel and will be limited to specific hours: from 12-4 PM Monday, and from 8 AM-4 PM Tuesday.
Once in place, Jim Smith Contracting officials have a 6-to-8 month timetable to complete the deck on the main span to prepare it for traffic in late spring of 2023.
This new structure is immediately beside the existing bridge, which opened to the public in 1931.
