Lane and load restriction continues on Cairo, Ill., bridge

WICKLIFFE, Ky. — A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to continue a lane and 10-foot load width restriction on the US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The bridge will be open to normal traffic flow this weekend to allow truckers and farmers to move wide loads.

Weather conditions and some equipment issues prevented completion of a detailed inspection of the bridge structure this week, requiring the inspection team to return to the bridge with lane and load width restrictions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The inspection crew will have a work zone up from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

 The 10 ft. load width restriction is due to the use of an UBIV-  Under Bridge Inspection Vehicle and other equipment to facilitate the inspection process.  Climbers will also be used to inspect the bridge truss structure. 

Motorists should be prepared to encounter one lane traffic and a strict 10 ft. load width restriction between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Motorists should be prepared to encounter one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers. Some minor delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and inspection personnel are along the bridge deck in close proximity to traffic flow.

Truckers and farmers should be especially aware of the strict 10 ft. load width restriction due to equipment on the bridge deck required to facilitate the inspection.

 The Wickliffe-Cairo Bridge carries US 51, US 60, and US 62 traffic across the Ohio River at US 51 Kentucky mile point 7.372.

Also known as The Cairo Bridge, the US 51/US 60/US 62 Ohio River Bridge carries approximately 4,700 vehicles across the Ohio River each day between Wickliffe and Cairo.  It connects with the US 60/US 62 Mississippi River Bridge that connects Illinois and Missouri.

The US 51 Ohio River Bridge was constructed by the Cairo Bridge Commission as a toll facility and opened to traffic on Nov. 11, 1936.  Tolls were removed from the crossing on Nov. 11, 1948, when the highway agencies of Kentucky and Illinois took over maintenance of the structure.

The Cairo-Wickliffe Bridge is at Ohio River navigation mile point 980.4.

For more timely updates on the US 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge and other traffic information please go to www.Facebook.com/kytcdistrict1.  You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.