Traffic Switch on I-275 Westbound Near Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge Delayed to Wednesday, Aug. 20
UPDATE: due to inclement weather, the traffic shift is expected to take place on Wednesday instead of Tuesday
UPDATE (6:35 p.m., Aug. 19, 2025) -- Due to the possibility of inclement weather on Tuesday evening, the contractor has adjusted the schedule of this traffic switch. Weather permitting, the shift will now take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20 between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight.
COVINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 19, 2025) – Motorists should expect a rolling roadblock on Interstate 275 westbound (from Kentucky to Indiana) near the Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Weather permitting, this rolling roadblock will take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The rolling roadblock will switch westbound traffic to the right lane from the Petersburg exit (11.58 mile point) to past the truss of the bridge. Traffic will then shift at the end of the bridge from the right lane to the left lane.
This traffic switch is necessary for our crews to continue working on expansion joint repairs. Traffic will be slowed, and at times stopped, to provide a safe working area for crews to switch traffic.
Additionally, a shoring plan has been approved for the upcoming floor beam repairs. A traffic phasing plan and design for the platform used for the repairs is currently under review. Once the design and phasing is approved -- crews could begin floor beam repairs in the next two weeks.
Project Background
Aligned with Team Kentucky’s mission to ensure a safe transportation system for the traveling public, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) began steel repairs in mid-January on the Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge, which spans the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana. Motorists should expect lane closures through late summer 2025.
This bridge repair project follows a federally required inspection of older bridges across the country built with “T-1” steel – a high-strength, quenched and treated steel known for being highly amenable to welding and machining. Potential issues had been found in other states with certain types of welds, which needed to be tested.
During a 2023 inspection on the Carroll Cropper bridge, engineering firm Michael Baker International tested 600 welds and identified 15 locations that would need future repairs but posed no immediate safety issues. Consultants and KYTC engineers collaborated to create a repair plan to prevent potential fractures and address these findings. These repairs will ensure the bridge can be safely traveled well into the future.
In December 2024, KYTC bridge engineering analysis showed that other repairs – unrelated to T-1 steel issues - would be needed for an expansion joint and floor beam. A reduced weight limit and lane restrictions were put in place as a precaution and to prevent further damage. The expansion joint and floor beam repairs have now been added to the T-1 steel project to expedite those repairs.
An expansion joint is a component of the bridge deck, or travel surface, that allows for thermal expansion and contraction due to changes in weather to prevent concrete from cracking.
Once the floor beam repairs are completed, KYTC will lift the emergency vehicle weight limit imposed last December.
A reduced speed limit of 55 miles-per-hour is in effect within the project area until repairs are finished. Overweight and over-dimensional vehicles remain prohibited due to current lane restrictions.
M & M Services Inc. is contracted to perform the $3.6 million project on behalf of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Weather permitting, the listed repairs on the project has an expected completion date of Fall 2025.
Additional Restrictions
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, KYTC implemented weight limits for emergency vehicles and temporary lane restrictions on the I-275 Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge.
While the bridge remains safe for passenger vehicles, a recent inspection found deterioration in some of its steel.
New Emergency Vehicle Weight Limits:
- Single Axle: 16 tons
- Tandem Axle: 23 tons
- Gross Weight: 31 tons
The weight reduction will not impact commercial vehicle traffic due to semi-trucks having more axles to distribute the weight.
Overweight Over-Dimensional vehicles are not permitted on the bridge at this time due to current lane restrictions.
The date, time, and duration of work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Motorists can get Northern Kentucky road construction updates on the District 6 Roadshow. Follow KYTC District 6 on Facebook or Twitter. For Kentucky’s latest traffic and travel information, visit GoKy, TRIMARC, and WAZE.
Project schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. For the most current information on road construction in Northern Kentucky, please visit the District 6 Roadshow or the Driving Northern Kentucky Progress website. You can also stay informed by following KYTC District 6 on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). For statewide traffic and travel updates, visit GoKY.
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