OWENSBORO, Ky. (January 5, 2026) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet received notice from American Contracting on Monday that the closure of the Glover Cary Bridge in Owensboro is expected to be extended until the end of January, up to two weeks beyond the most recent expected reopening date of January 16, 2026.
Originally planned as a 90-day closure between July 1 and Oct. 1, 2025, the contractor did not begin construction until July 14. KYTC was officially notified in late September that the reopening deadline would be missed when the contractor submitted a revised schedule that indicated a January 16, 2026 reopening date.
The latest delay comes after American failed to work numerous days during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday weeks that had been built into their planned construction schedule.
After construction began in July, additional steel repair needs were identified on the bridge. That additional work was added to the project and scheduled to be completed along with the planned work. The additional work was completed in early November.
The Contractor is currently working on replacing around 900 feet of bridge deck on the Indiana approach to the main bridge truss. Remaining work on the main structure includes pouring about 500 feet of concrete bridge decking before the bridge can be reopened. According to the schedule that American Contracting provided to KYTC on Monday, they plan to resume pouring the concrete deck on the main structure on Friday, January 12.
Liquidated Damages of $15,000 per day (including weekends) are being applied for failure to reopen the bridge by the contractually agreed-upon October 1st deadline and will continue until the bridge is reopened to traffic. Failure to complete the project by the November 15th resulted in an additional $4,000 per day in liquidated damages that will continue until the project is fully completed. As of January 5, 2026, the company has been charged over $1.5 million in Liquidated Damages for failure to meet their contractual obligations.
Around 7,200 vehicles on average crossed the Glover Carey Bridge daily prior to the closure. The structure opened to traffic in 1940.
Traffic needing to cross the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana during the closure should continue to detour using the nearby U.S. 231 William H. Natcher Bridge.