The first truss section of the old Ledbetter Bridge is scheduled for demolition next week, weather permitting. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says C.J. Mahan Construction Company will bring down the bridge’s left descending truss using controlled explosives Thursday September 11.
The demolition be the first of three controlled explosions required to bring down each truss span. Starting about 7 a.m., boat traffic on the Tennessee River will be halted and areas within 1,500 feet of the blast will be cleared.
Also known as the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, the Old Ledbetter Bridge was opened to traffic in 1931 connecting Livingston County and McCracken County between Ledbetter and Paducah. It has been closed since traffic moved to the new US 60 Tennessee River Bridge at the end of July 2013.
The bridge partially collapsed in June due to land slippage on the McCracken County side, expediting plans for demolition.
