LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Indiana Department of Transportation said all lanes of the Sherman Minton Bridge were closed Friday afternoon "until further notice," though, as of 2 p.m., traffic was still moving.
INDOT said while crews were conducting a scheduled deck pour, part of the bridge deck was found "to need immediate inspection and possible repair."
All lanes were immediately closed.
The bridge shut down in both directions suddenly Friday afternoon for an immediate inspection.
INDOT is advising drivers to find alternate routes, mainly Interstates 265 and 65 between Kentucky and Indiana.
Friday evening, engineers from INDOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) according to a post on X.Â
INDOT and KYTC engineers are conducting detailed inspections of the superstructure under the top deck of the Sherman Minton Bridge. The bridge will remain closed in both the east and westbound directions until further evaluation is complete.@KYTCDistrict5 @INDOTSoutheast pic.twitter.com/E14i9xyWHX
— Sherman Minton Renewal (@ShermanRenewal) March 9, 2024
With little to no notice on Friday, thousands of drivers were forced to find alternative routes home.
"I didn't even know about it until I was on my way home," Erin Henry, one of many frustrated drivers on Friday, said. "My husband called me and said 'you're probably going to get stuck in traffic because the bridge is shut down.'"
With this being the second emergency closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge during the renewal project, many drivers question if the bridge should have just been closed at the start of the project.
The company managing this project said a section of the bridge needed immediate inspection and repairs, closing both upper and lower decks in both directions until further notice.
“Honestly, they should have done this in the first, second and third shift, and they should have had this stuff closed down when they first started this," Chris Grainger, of New Albany, said. "They should have closed it down all the way. It makes no sense why they did this.”Â
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.
This story will be updated.
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