Project Expected to be Completed Within 10 Days
MADISONVILLE, Ky. (April 1, 2024) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is scheduled to begin a bridge replacement project in Henderson County next week that will allow buses from Cairo Elementary School to resume using KY 416 for their daily routes, helping area children get home safer and sooner.
KYTC is planning a quick turnaround on the project, expecting to have the old bridge, located between the 2.7 and 2.8 mile marks, removed and a new one installed in less than 10 days.
In recent years, following issues with several timber structure bridges across the Commonwealth, KYTC partnered with a private bridge inspection firm to assure the safety of all bridges in Kentucky. Following the results of those inspections, the weight limit on this bridge was reduced.
While the bridge is still open and considered safe to use, the new restricted weight limit falls below what school buses are allowed to cross. As a result, buses were no longer able to use the bridge, forcing some children to travel longer distances to get to and from school.
In order to expedite the installation process and allow buses to once again use this roadway, KYTC will block KY 416 at the bridge beginning Tuesday, April 9, 2024, with demolition of the existing structure to begin that day. Installation of a new prefabricated box culvert bridge will begin as soon as the site is cleared.
The bridge is located on KY 416 between Thomason Road and W.N. Royster Road. There will be a marked detour in place for the duration of the project.
More than 10,000 Contech Con/Span box culverts have been installed since 1983. Their prefabricated design allows for much quicker installation than traditional concrete bridges, which have to be poured and molded on site. Box culverts are designed and constructed offsite for a specific location, then assembled in place.
Contech is scheduled to deliver the bridge on April 9, with construction to begin as soon as that afternoon. The roadway is scheduled to be fully reopened by April 19, 2024.
The entire project will cost approximately $125,000.
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