Geotechnical testing to begin for U.S. 51 Ohio River ‘Cairo’ Bridge replacement project
CAIRO, Ill. (KBSI) – Geotechnical testing for the U.S. 51 Ohio River ‘Cairo’ Bridge replacement project is expected to start the weekend of June 29-30.
The testing includes field work and drilling in the river upstream from the existing bridge.
Crews will drill and test soil samples from ground level to as deep as 400 feet below the riverbed, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Drilling will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the work is complete.
A lift boat will be used to minimize the impact on passing Ohio River towboat traffic because of the area’s complex river conditions.
The geotechnical work is expected to take a couple of months. However, the schedule is dependent on river levels.
The geotechnical testing will provide a better analysis of the soils under the river and existing geological conditions, which will give engineers the information necessary to design the foundations for a new bridge.
The work will have no impact on vehicle traffic crossing the existing bridge.
The U.S. 51 Bridge Project Team scheduled a meeting to update the public on planning for construction of a new bridge. The meeting is set for Thursday, July 11 at Cairo High School from 5-8 p.m. with a presentation at 6 p.m.
The team plans to share the bridge design type for the new structure that could start construction in 2028. Photos and display materials will be available online at us51bridge.com after the public meeting.
The existing U.S. 51 Ohio River ‘Cairo’ Bridge ia a north-south connector for U.S. 51 and an east-west transportation corridor for U.S. 60 and U.S. 62.
The bridge carries about 5,400 vehicles per day between Kentucky and Illinois.
About 43 percent of the traffic is commercial trucks, according to KYTC.
The bridge crosses the Ohio River at navigation mile point 980.4 and carries U.S. 51, U.S. 60, and U.S. 62 traffic. It is the longest and the westernmost bridge in Kentucky over the Ohio River.
