Construction crews are on track to complete one section of the new Ledbetter Bridge by May of next year. The bridge will connect U. S. 60 between McCracken and Livingston counties. It replaces the current outdated bridge. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd says the state offered the bridge contractor 3.8 million dollars in incentives to finish a two-lane section by May, and all four lanes by October next year.
“They have been working essentially 10-12 hours a day, 6 days a week. I think they are working on Sundays a little bit, but their main focus has been to just to continue to work very aggressively to make sure they can meet the requirements to get that incentive," said Todd.
Todd says over the next two weeks, crews will connect the bridge trusses together. They also hope in the next month to pour concrete for the bridge approach on the McCracken County side. He says the incentives could cut 14 months off the construction timeline, and relieve the burden on local traffic.
The state has set a 3-ton weight limit on the current Ledbetter Bridge to ensure safety.
“Several river-related machine shops haul a lot of heavy material back and forth between McCracken County and Livingston County, and those trucks have been having to go around," he said. "That adds about a 10 or 12 mile detour to those trucks that have to go back and forth on a daily basis.
Todd says a temporary access road will connect the US 60 with the new bridge. KYTC estimates around 7,800 vehicles use the old Ledbetter Bridge each day.
