Crews preparing for work on Blackiston Mill Bridge replacement in southern Indiana

For years, the bridge has been plagued with repairs and flooding concerns, closing for several months last year after the dam underneath it failed.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Work will begin soon to replace a busy bridge taking traffic between New Albany and Clarksville in southern Indiana.

More than 20,000 drivers use the Blackiston Mill Bridge each day. For years, the bridge has been plagued with repairs and flooding concerns, closing for several months last year after the dam underneath it failed.

The sudden change in water flow chewed away part of the embankment and eventually collapsed a portion of the roadway into Silver Creek, leaving a massive hole and forcing the bridge to close until late July 2025.

Because the structure was compromised, crews removed the dam last summer, using the broken concrete and stone to rebuild the eroded embankments — a crucial step before any repairs could be made to the bridge itself.

At the time of the dam's removal, engineers said the main support structure of the bridge was still in good shape, but the surface of the bridge remained a safety concern, with steel plates covering holes. Plans for a new bridge have been in the works since 2017.

County commissioners said the goal is for a new bridge to be built about 150 yards upstream from the existing bridge. Plans call for a wider, safer bridge with space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Right now, crews are clearing trees, moving utilities, and building access roads in preparation for the construction work ahead. The current bridge will eventually be demolished when construction on the new bridge wraps up in 2027.