U.S. 51 Cairo Bridge to remain closed as repair plan is developed
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — The U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge connecting Wickliffe, Kentucky, and Cairo, Illinois, will remain closed until further notice as engineers develop a repair plan, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Tuesday.
The bridge was closed Monday after a special inspection identified a problem with a bearing pad on the Kentucky approach.
Transportation officials said a bearing pad shifted out of place, causing the bridge deck to become misaligned by about 2 to 3 inches at an expansion joint. The bridge requires repairs before it can safely reopen.
Officials said there are no concerns about the bridge’s overall structural integrity.
The repair will require crews to lift a heavy section of the bridge deck to replace the bearing pad. State engineers are working with contractors and the design team to finalize a repair plan.
There is no estimated timeline for reopening the bridge.
Motorists are advised to continue using alternate routes, including the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge between Paducah and Metropolis, Illinois.
The I-24 bridge remains reduced to one lane in each direction in a head-to-head traffic pattern as the Illinois Department of Transportation completes a bridge rehabilitation project. A 10-foot, 6-inch lane width restriction remains in effect.
