PADUCAH, KY – Explosive demolition for one of the piers of the Old U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge is set for noon on Friday, January 5, 2024.
The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge will be closed to traffic for about 30 minutes to accommodate the blast.
The demolition team is ready to take out one of the piers. If explosives are placed in the second pier in time, both piers will be taken out in one blast. If the second pier is not ready by noon, Friday, it will be scheduled for late in the day on Friday or at Noon on Saturday.
The contractor will again establish a 1,500 ft. clear zone around the blast site. The public is asked to stay out of the clear zone to avoid delaying the pier detonation.
KYtC District 1 will attempt to provide notice on Friday morning if a second blast will be required.
A crew is continuing to drill the piers for explosive placement as a final step before the blast. The demolition contractor is continuing to use excavator-mounted jackhammers for demolition of the remaining abutment of the old bridge.
Due to the location of the main piers, there will be no public viewing area for Friday’s blast. However, KYTC District 1 will work with area news media outlets to provide video and photos of the piers being taken down.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Jim Smith Contracting, and a demolition contractor are coordinating with Livingston County Emergency Management, the Kentucky Division of Mine Reclamation, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with a final prep meeting planned for the morning of the the blast.
The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge will close to traffic for a short time, and the river will be closed to navigation to execute the blast.
