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Ohio River 'Cairo' Bridge Now Open to Traffic

Mark Jaroski
/
Wikimedia Commons

UPDATE:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the US 51 'Cairo' Bridge is now open to traffic.   

The river crossing has been shut since December 31st after floodwaters covered a portion of the bridge on the Kentucky side. 

The US 51 Ohio River Bridge at Cairoremains closed for most of this week due to high floodwaters over part of the bridge on the Kentucky side.  

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed the bridge last Thursday and barricaded the roadway last week to prevent truckers and motorists from removing the 'Road Closed' signs.

An 80-mile detour remains in place.

The closure impacts north-south traffic between Kentucky and Illinois and east-west traffic between Kentucky and Missouri, sending motorists on an 80 mile detour via the I-24 Ohio River Bridge through southern Illinois.

The US Army Corps of Engineers estimates river elevation levels will likely keep the bridge closed until Thursday.  

Credit KYTC

The Ohio River Bridge sees about 5,000 vehicles per day of which about 35 percent is truck traffic carrying goods between Kentucky, Illinois and nearby Missouri.

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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