Two blasts take down final remnants of old bridge structure

PADUCAH, Ky. (January 6, 2024) – Two explosive blasts took down the main piers of the Old U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge this morning.  They were the last remaining sections of a structure that opened to traffic in 1931.

The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge was closed for about 20 minutes — once at 9 a.m. and again at 12:45 a.m. to allow explosive demolition of the final pieces of the old bridge structure.  The demolition contractor will now use excavator-mounted jackhammers to break up remaining sections of the concrete piers.  Some sections of the old piers will have to be retrieved from the river.

The blasts were monitored by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Jim Smith Contracting, Livingston County Emergency Management, the Kentucky Division of Mine Reclamation, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Video of the blasts is posted at www.Facebook.com/KYTCDistrict1, along with a photo of one of the blasts.  A photo of the old bridge site following the blasts is attached below.