The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is planning to add a southbound lane of traffic to the northbound U.S. 41 twin bridge.
Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray today announced a plan Wednesday to alleviate traffic backups on the bridge.
Inspection of the U.S. 41 southbound bridge required closure of one of the bridge’s two traffic lanes. To increase traffic flow, a third lane is being opened temporarily on the adjacent U.S. 41 northbound bridge. As a result, southbound traffic will again have two travel lanes, one of which will be on the northbound bridge.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews will be changing the traffic pattern on the U.S. 41 northbound bridge to accommodate the three travel lanes. Once a new crossover is constructed, KYTC will shift a southbound lane of traffic onto the northbound bridge, in addition to the two northbound lanes. Work for the second southbound lane is expected to be completed on Friday.
The ongoing federally mandated inspection will require single-lane closures on the southbound bridge through Nov. 18. Digital message signs have been placed on US 41 South notifying motorists of the traffic change.
To accommodate the equipment required for testing on the bridge, KYTC will restrict all truck traffic to a maximum width of 12 feet, prohibiting wide loads during the testing period.
Inspectors plan to work from daylight to dark, seven days a week, until the inspection is complete. This type of inspection work is not possible at night.