NEWS RELEASE
HENDERSON, Ky. (July 28, 2016) — Truckers and motorists will soon see new load posting signs going up on the U.S. 41 Twin Bridges southbound side between Henderson, KY, and Evansville, IN.
The posting is required as a result of a recent load rating analysis that was performed for an upcoming overlay project. The U.S 41 Twin Bridges are safe for public travel with vehicles under the posted weight capacity.
The Cabinet posted the southbound bridge to carry a weight tolerance of 41 tons or 82,000 pounds for commercial vehicle traffic. The Cabinet also lowered the weight capacity limits for commercial vehicles under 41 tons.
The new maximum weight postings are as follows:
· Type 1 Trucks 33 tons
· Type 2 Trucks 35 tons
· Type 3 Trucks 37 tons
· Type 4 SEMI Trucks 41 tons
· Single Unit 5+ Axles 38 tons
· Single Unit 6+ Axles 38 tons
· Single Unit 7+ Axles 39 tons
Next year, the southbound U.S. 41 Twin Bridges will get a new deck surface. A 1-inch latex concrete overlay will be replaced with a 2-inch “Rosphalt” driving surface. To prepare for the increased deck weight and avoid further reductions in the load limit, upgrades will be required to the southbound spans on the Kentucky side by the end of 2017. Plans to perform the necessary upgrades are currently being developed.
The Cabinet installed signs today with the new weight posting on the southbound side of the U.S. 41 Twin Bridges. Approximately 41,000 vehicles cross the bridges in an average day. About 11 percent of that is commercial truck traffic.