Repairs expected to begin Tuesday on Sherman Minton Bridge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Repairs to the Sherman Minton Bridge are expected to begin sometime Tuesday.

The bridge spanning over the Ohio River connecting Louisville to southern Indiana closed Friday afternoon "until further notice." Officials said the closure of the bridge was initiated out of an abundance of caution.

According to a news release, officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and building contractors are finalizing their analyses to address a floor beam alignment issue. There is no structural damage to the bridge, so repairs are expected to begin Tuesday and the bridge will be reopened to traffic as soon as possible.

"Safety is always our top priority," Royce Meredith, Program Manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said in a news release. "We are pleased with the results of our thorough inspections and early analyses and the project team is focused on safely reopening the bridge to traffic in days, not weeks."

According to a news release, engineers will relocate temporary construction rigging to remedy floor beam alignment issues.

"We’re currently securing the necessary materials and expect to begin the repair phase within the next 24 hours," Meredith said Monday in a written statement.

The bridge will remain closed in both directions until the design and repairs are complete.

The work is part of the ongoing Sherman Minton Renewal Project, which is aimed at painting and rehabilitating the 61-year-old bridge. The project is anticipated to give the six-lane, double-decked bridge up to 30 more years of life.

Work on Phase Four began in mid-November and includes structural steel repair and replacement, bridge painting, pavement preservation, and concrete bridge deck replacement on the final section of the top westbound deck.

To follow progress on the project, go to www.ShermanMintonRenewal.com.

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