LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced a steel repair project on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, which carries Interstate 65 south over the Ohio River, will be completed by Monday, Nov. 25.

What You Need To Know

  • A steel repair project on the John F. Kennedy Bridge will be finished on Monday, Nov. 25

  • Full access to all lanes on the bridge begins at 9 a.m.

  • The repair project was the result of a nationwide inspection of older bridges across the country

According to KYTC, the project is finishing early. Traffic control measures currently in place will be removed beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, opening full access to all lanes on the bridge.

Repairs on the Kennedy Bridge resulted from federally required inspections of older bridges across the country built with “T-1” steel — a high-strength, quenched and treated steel known for “highly amenable to welding and machining,” according to KYTC. The inspections found 44 locations needing repair to prevent potential issues in the future.

The repairs were a precautionary measure to ensure the Kennedy Bridge’s safety for future travel.

KYTC said a fractured weld in May 2021 in a T-1 steel component on the I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge between Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas, prompted nationwide bridge inspections. The Federal Highway Administration issued a memorandum to all states in Dec. 2021 to inspect and test specific T-1 steel bridges to ensure their safety. 

Related Stories

-

Facebook Twitter