LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s been almost two weeks since the crash on the Second Street bridge in Louisville that had a semitruck dangling over the edge. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced the first step to restore a portion of the bridge is scheduled to begin Wednesday, March 20.

So that crews can begin working, temporary traffic changes will be needed on the bridge, formally named the George Rogers Clark Memorial bridge. KYTC says new striping will be applied beginning March 20 to restrict the bridge to southbound-only traffic during repairs. KYTC says the timing of the traffic change is being coordinated with ongoing Sherman Minton Bridge construction.

“Public safety has been and will continue to be our top priority as we work to quickly repair isolated sidewalk and railing damage on the Clark Memorial bridge,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “This requires a great deal of coordination and fine-tuning with engineers on the two bridge projects to maintain as many travel options as possible for drivers while repairs are underway.”

Changes on the bridge will begin at 9 a.m. The bridge will be completely shutdown for a short period to allow crews to set up traffic control devices. KYTC says the process should be complete by late afternoon—before the evening rush hour. There will be two lanes open to southbound traffic only—drivers coming from Indiana into Louisville.

KYTC says this plan provides the fewest disruptions for drivers and will remain in place until the repair project is completed.

“With materials in hand and plans in place, we are eager to start work to restore this critical link for motorists,” said KYTC Chief District Engineer Matt Bullock. “Keeping traffic flowing in one direction allows crews to expedite and execute repairs as they will need to stage large equipment to perform the work.”

The Second Street Bridge connecting Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana is closed after a crash that left this semi-truck dangling. (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

Drivers heading northbound—Kentucky to Indiana—should use either the Sherman Minton Bridge (I-64 West) or the Abraham Lincoln Bridge (I-65 North). Sidewalk on the Second Street Bridge will be closed to pedestrians. Seocn

KYTC says the bridge will be fully closed during non-peak travel times intermittently, which will allow crews to deliver and set bridge beams.

It is estimated the bridge repair will be complete by mid-April. It will affect nothing to do with Thunder Over Louisville, which happens on April 20 and requires the bridge to be closed for three days for firework set up.

The bridge was damaged on March 1 when several cars and a semitruck crashed. Engineers inspected the bridge after the crash and determined the structural integrity of the bridge was not affected. After that determination, one southbound lane and two northbound lanes reopened a day after the crash. Damage was isolated to the sidewalk.

The Clark Memorial Bridge was built in 1929 and reconstructed in 1958. According to KYTC, it carries an average of 24,000 vehicles per day.