PADUCAH, Ky. (December 18, 2023) – A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a long-term work zone on the Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge at I-24 mile point 29.35 starting January 2, 2024.
The major bridge rehab project will require traffic restrictions in several phases through 2024 for joint replacement, cleaning and painting of the steel arch, as well as other bridge maintenance work.
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 to allow joint work on the eastbound Tennessee River Bridge between U.S. 62 Calvert City Exit 27 and KY 453 Grand Rivers Exit 31.
Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. Initial work will include the installation of a barrier wall.
There will be additional work zone restrictions and traffic shifts in phases about every 20 days for the first several months of the bridge rehab project. The work zone will eventually include westbound traffic restrictions and traffic shifts with start dates to be announced as work progresses.
This work zone will include a 55 mile-per-hour speed limit with an enhanced enforcement presence and double fines. The work zone will include interactive traffic monitoring to help alert motorists to traffic backups.
Local commuters should consider a self-detour via U.S. 62 and KY 453 between Calvert City Exit 27 and Grand Rivers Exit 31 to avoid possible delays once the work starts.
While I-24 will initially be restricted to one-lane traffic, once the joint work is completed and work platforms are set up for cleaning and painting of the steel arch, the bridge will be temporarily striped with 11 ft. travel lanes to allow two-lane traffic in each direction.
The contractor will work to assure that two lanes of travel are open in each direction for the surge of traffic expected when thousands of visitors arrive for the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse.
The contractor and KYTC District 1 will provide timely updates when traffic shifts are planned. Please be alert for frequent updates on the traffic configuration as the work progresses.
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.
The Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge consists of twin tied-arch suspension bridges at I-24 mile point 29.352 at the Marshall-Livingston County Line.
The 2,017 ft. bridge with a 534 ft. main span is also known as the Luther Draffen Bridge. The bridge opened to traffic in 1974. The twin structures carry approximately 30,000 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.
The bridge is at Tennessee River navigation mile point 21.1, about a mile below Kentucky Dam.
