Closure until further notice
PADUCAH, KY (January 6, 2024) The U.S. 45 Ohio River “Brookport” Bridge between Paducah, KY, and Brookport, IL, is closed due to guardrail and railing damage caused by an overnight crash.
The crash caused significant damage to a section of guardrail along the bridge deck. It also bent a section of the bridge railing so it is extending into the roadway. The damage will have to be repaired before traffic can resume.
The bridge will remain closed until further notice to allow repairs to be completed. Some of the bridge railing may have to be fabricated, so the closure could be for an extended period.
KYTC bridge inspectors and engineers will be evaluating the damage over the weekend to develop a repair plan.
KYTC District 1 will provide updates as those plans are developed and executed.
Motorists should detour via the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge.
Also known as the Brookport Bridge and the Irvin S. Cobb Bridge, the U.S. 45 Ohio River Bridge is at McCracken County mile point 12.882.
The 10-span bridge carries approximately 5,000 vehicles across the Ohio River each day between Paducah, KY, and Brookport, IL.
The U.S. 45 Ohio River “Brookport” Bridge has a 15-ton load limit, an 8 ft. load width restriction and a 9 ft. 6 in. vehicle height restriction, which prohibits most commercial trucks and prohibits all STAA Trucks. Large recreational vehicles, farm equipment and permitted loads of any kind are prohibited from crossing the bridge.
The 5,385 ft. structure at Ohio River navigation mile point 937.3 was opened to traffic in 1929.
