A $1 million Transportation Cabinet preventive maintenance project coming next month to downtown Ashland’s 12th Street bridge will mean extended life for the Ohio River crossing, but it requires a temporary traffic change – the bridge must be closed.
“While we understand the concerns this will create, it’s vitally important that work is done to keep the bridge in service for the 14,000 vehicles a day that use it,” said Chief District Engineer Bart Bryant of Kentucky Department of Highways District 9.
“This project will provide new connecting joints, a new driving surface and other repairs to ensure its longevity,” Bryant said. “And, it’s our goal to get that work done safely and quickly as possible.”
Closing the bridge is the safest option for both motorists and contractors – the structure is too narrow to work in one lane while traffic is flowing in the other lane – and it shortens the repair time.
The 1930s-era 12th Street bridge, the green bridge, is officially named the Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge. It carries two lanes of traffic from Ohio to Kentucky, connecting US 52 in Ohio with US 23 and US 60 in downtown Ashland. It was refurbished in the 1980s, and since then has seen several painting and maintenance projects.
Recently, engineers analyzed the bridge’s concrete pavement using ground penetrating radar and other methods, and determined that new deck joints and a concrete overlay is necessary to prevent future deterioration of the roadway and safeguard the bridge’s ability to handle its traffic load.
In June, the Transportation Cabinet awarded a $988,948 contract to Delong Concrete LLC of Lexington for the work. Contractors expect to start construction and close the 12th Street bridge after Labor Day.
Kentucky highway engineers will work with contractors to reconfigure the adjacent 13th Street bridge to accommodate two-way traffic during construction, and will work with Ohio DOT and the City of Ashland to adjust traffic patterns and traffic signals on both sides of the river to enhance traffic flow as much as possible.
Engineers will monitor construction to ensure it progresses on schedule, and will enforce a Nov. 15 completion deadline.
“We understand that this project will impact downtown Ashland,” Bryant said. “And our challenge is to maintain the life of this important river crossing and perform the work with the least traffic disruption possible.”
(provided by Kentucky Department of Highways)
