Rolling roadblocks start at 8 a.m., Tuesday, for lane restriction prep work
PADUCAH, Ky. (January 1, 2024) – A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans rolling roadblocks on Interstate 24 eastbound near the 29-mile marker starting at 8 a.m., Tuesday. Three rolling roadblocks are planned to create a ten minute gap in traffic to allow prep work for a work zone lane restriction on the Tennessee River Bridge.
The eastbound rolling roadblocks will begin near the 26 mile marker to allow water blasting, traffic paint striping, and placement of a barrier wall to establish the work zone. This work zone will have a 14 ft. maximum load width starting Tuesday morning and continuing into late March.
Additional restrictions are expected about every 20 days with westbound restrictions to be added and several traffic shifts planned in phases to facilitate joint replacement, cleaning and painting of the steel arch, and other general bridge maintenance work that will continue through the 2024 construction season.
The initial work zone lane restriction will be for eastbound traffic on I-24. All eastbound traffic will move to the left-hand or passing lane at the Tennessee River Bridge between U.S. 62 Calvert City Exit 27 and KY 453 Grand Rivers Exit 31. This section of I-24 also carries Interstate 69 traffic.
Local commuters are asked to consider a self-detour via U.S. 62 and KY 453 between Calvert City Exit 27 and Grand Rivers Exit 31 to help reduce delays, particularly during peak travel periods.
The work zone will include a 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, enhanced enforcement, and double fines. The work zone will feature interactive traffic monitoring, with portable message boards to alert motorists when traffic backups develop.
While I-24 eastbound will initially be restricted to one-lane traffic, once the joint work is completed and overhead work platforms are set up for cleaning and painting of the steel arch, the bridge will be temporarily striped with 11 ft. lanes to allow two-lanes of travel in each direction.
Please be alert for frequent updates on the traffic configuration as the work progresses.
The contractor will work to assure that four lanes of travel are open for the surge of traffic expected for the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse.
Spartan Contracting is the prime contractor on this $16,353,000 bridge rehabilitation and maintenance project. The target completion date for all work is December 1, 2024.
