Summer 2022 Completion for Spottsville Bridge

MADISONVILLE, Ky. (August 31, 2020) – The contractor for the Spottsville Bridge is currently concentrating on the construction of the east and west bridge approach embankments. This work will consist of hauling dirt to build up the approach for the new roadway alignments.

Part of this work will entail building a diversion. Traffic will temporarily drive on a diversion in order to finish earthwork for the new roadway alignment. Motorists can expect to utilize the diversions for several months. Once motorists are switched to the diversion (next year), they will utilize them until the bridge and new roadway alignment are constructed.  The purpose of the diversions is to allow for the construction of the tie-ins between the new roadway alignment and existing U.S. 60 on both ends of the project.

Construction of the new sub-structure will involve:

• Drilling the foundation (beneath the ground, not visible).
• Pouring  columns (2 per pier) vertical concrete cylinders (above ground). The columns transfer the weight of the bridge to the foundations.
• Web Walls connect two columns together and add structural stability to the pier.
• Pier Caps enclose the two columns and the web wall at the top of the pier. The pier caps are what the components/concrete or steel beams set on.

All of the work detailed above will be addressed over the next 5 – 6 months, weather permitting.

The new bridge will be constructed adjacent to and north of the old bridge with 12-foot driving lanes and 8-foot shoulders. The extra space provided by the wider lanes will improve safety and allow for more maneuvering room, especially when it comes to incident management. The old bridge allowed for little leeway with 10 ft. lanes and narrow shoulders.

 The U.S. 60 Green River “Spottsville” Bridge is located at U.S. 60 mile point 19.388 in Henderson County.  Also known as the Spottsville Bridge and the Richard W. Owen Memorial Bridge, the 1,102 foot structure with a 359 foot main span was built as a toll bridge and opened to traffic in December 1931.  Tolls were removed in August 1945.

Approximately 3,000 vehicles cross the bridge in an average day.  The U.S. 60 Green River Bridge at Spottsville is 9 miles east of the U.S. 41/U.S. 60 Cloverleaf at Henderson and about 6 miles west of the Henderson-Daviess County Line. The Spottsville Bridge is at Green River navigation mile point 8.6.

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