Traffic Expected to Move to New U.S. 60 Cumberland River "Smithland" Bridge in Late-April or Early-May
PADUCAH, Ky. (March 7, 2023) – Construction of the New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland continues to be on schedule, with traffic expected to move to the new bridge sometime in late-April or early-May. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Jim Smith Contracting anticipate being able to calculate a more specific date a few weeks before traffic is moved to the new $63.3 Million structure.
According to KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat, the Cabinet and Smith Contracting had hoped to make the traffic move sooner. However, several factors will keep things on the original timeline.
“A crane that was to be used for demolition of the existing bridge is tied up on another project,” Poat said. “That pushed the demolition process for the old bridge into the timeline that ospreys will arrive at their nest on the old bridge and start laying eggs. That means we’ll now have to wait for the young ospreys to hatch and start flying – maybe sometime in June. If we can’t beat the ospreys, we have time to complete much more of the work on the new bridge before transferring traffic.”
Ospreys normally arrive on their nest atop the old bridge around March 15.
Poat anticipates all of the roadway work for the new bridge can now be completed before traffic is transferred to the new alignment, helping to minimize or eliminate traffic disruptions later.
“The original plan called for the contractor to pave the final driving surface on the new roadway alignment after traffic moved to the new bridge. Keeping the traffic move on the original schedule will allow the final round of paving and other finish work to be completed more efficiently,” Poat said.
Holding off on the traffic move will also allow time for diamond grinding to provide a smoother ride on the deck of the new bridge. KYTC engineers are also considering the addition of a granite traction coating to enhance the durability of decking on the new structure.
The new bridge will have a 40-foot-wide, two-lane deck with 12-foot driving lanes and 8-foot shoulders that will provide ample clearance for most farm equipment to cross without stopping oncoming traffic.
To aid river navigation on the Cumberland River, the new bridge will have no piers in the water during normal river conditions.
The new bridge will provide a significant cross-country link for U.S. 60 through western Kentucky and a critical connection for local Livingston County traffic. The Cumberland River splits the county, and the bridge is the only direct link for local commuters, commerce, school buses, and emergency responders.
The existing 60 Cumberland River bridge at Smithland, also known as the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial Bridge and the Smithland Bridge, is at US 60 Livingston County mile point 12.348. The 1,817 ft. through truss structure was opened to traffic in 1931. About 5,100 vehicles cross the bridge in an average day.
The contractor and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers have established an updated work schedule for the project:
April 2023
U.S. 60 highway connections tie-in completed
Final roadway surfacing and finish work
May 2023
Traffic moved to new bridge
June-August 2023
Demolition of old bridge
Target completion date for all work on the new bridge is Dec. 1, 2023
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