Traffic Switch on I-275 Westbound Near Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge on Wednesday, Sept. 10
Westbound traffic will shift to left lane ahead of bridge as repairs continue
COVINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2025) – Motorists should expect a rolling roadblock on Interstate 275 westbound (from Kentucky to Indiana) near the Carroll Cropper Memorial Bridge on Wednesday, Sept 10.
Weather permitting, this rolling roadblock will take place between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The rolling roadblock will switch westbound traffic to the left lane from the Petersburg exit (11.58 mile point) to past the truss of the bridge. Traffic will be slowed, and at times stopped, to provide a safe working area for crews to switch traffic.
All expansion joint repairs and T-1 steel repairs have now been completed on the Carroll Cropper Bridge. A scaffolding plan is awaiting approval to begin the final portion of this project – the floor beam repairs. Large steel support beams could be delivered on-site as soon as the end of this week. KYTC will provide updates once construction on the scaffolding and the floor beam repairs begin.
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 associated with this bridge repair project through Fall 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 76 locations that would need future repairs but posed no immediate safety issues. 12 additional locations would require significant repairs. 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 were 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.
More information about the project can be found on the project website.
Additional Restrictions
On Tuesday, Dec. 17 (2024), 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.
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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