BRIDGING THE GAP: East End Bridge Span Connects IN, KY

Milestone marks approaching December substantial completion

September, 1, 2016 – The final gap separating Louisville’s East End to Southern Indiana was closed earlier this week.

The final piece of steel was crane-lifted into the East End Bridge, a new cable-stayed bridge stretching 2,500 feet bank-to-bank over the Ohio River, just before noon Monday. Crews with Walsh-Vinci Construction marked the milestone with an evergreen tree on bridge deck, as part of a “topping out” ceremony.  The bridge is expected to open to traffic in December.

What’s Left to Complete?

The closure marks the home stretch of work for the entire East End Crossing portion of the Ohio River Bridges Project. Substantial completion of the entire East End Crossing – the new cable-stayed bridge, a 1,700 foot tunnel and 8.5 miles of new interstate connections – is scheduled by the end of 2016. Crews in Indiana and Kentucky are putting the finishing touches on the shared-use path and interstate connections on both sides of the river. In Kentucky, electrical and other installation work for the tunnel is ongoing. Electrical and lighting work makes up a piece of the remaining work on the bridge as well, as crews prepare to open the bridge for traffic before the end of the year.

Bridge Breakdown

The new stay-cabled East End bridge stretches over 2,500 feet across the Ohio River.  The cables connect to two main towers, which reached their full 300 foot height in early 2016.

The bridge is expected to open to traffic in December 2016.

• 6,670 tons – weight of the bridge deck’s structural steel
• 4,960 tons – weight of rebar used on the bridge’s main span
• 1,000 tons – weight of stay cables
• 104 – number of stay cables on the bridge’s main span
• 300 feet – height of each of the two main towers

Construction of the East End Crossing began in the summer of 2013. The project is scheduled to be completed in December of this year. It is part of the $2.3 billion Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project, which also includes a new I-65 bridge connecting Louisville, KY and Jeffersonville, IN, as well as major highway improvements on both sides of the river. Learn more about the project athttp://kyinbridges.com/

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Kentucky: Right westbound lane of U.S. 42 closed through fall 2016

September 1, 2016 — In order for LG&E electrical lines to be installed underground for the tunnel control building, the right westbound lane of U.S. 42 is closed for through fall 2016. The location of the closure will be from the Harrods Creek Fire Department to the tunnel control building. The right westbound lane will be open during peak traffic hours in the morning each day. The left westbound lane will remain fully open during this time.

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Kentucky: Lane closures on KY 841

September 1, 2016 — KY 841 (Gene Snyder Freeway) was reduced to one lane northbound and one lane southbound from the I-71 interchange to U.S. 42 in October 2013. This arrangement will likely continue through the duration of the East End Crossing project.

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Kentucky: Northbound lane of KY 841 to close temporarily Sept 6

September 1, 2016 — Due to ongoing construction, a northbound lane of KY 841 (Gene Snyder Freeway) will close between I-71 and U.S. 42 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 6. All ramps and traffic movements will remain open. Motorists are asked to use caution and drive slowly when driving in the area.

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Kentucky: Periodic closures on Transylvania Beach Road Sept 6 thru Sept 10, 2016

September 1, 2016 – Due to overhead bridge work, there will be periodic 20-minute closures on Transylvania Beach Road September 6 – September 10 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Motorists are asked to use caution and drive slowly when driving in the area.

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