Contractors plan to start repairs March 16 on the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge (US 62) at Maysville to fix damaged cabling so the bridge can be reopened to traffic this spring.
The 1930s-era downtown bridge, which carries US 62 across the Ohio River between Maysville and Aberdeen, Ohio, was restricted to a 3-ton weight limit in July when inspectors found corrosion damage to several suspender cables – the vertical cables extending from the main suspension cable that support the bridge’s driving surface.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet put the bridge on a monthly inspection rotation and began planning temporary repairs.
In November, the cabinet awarded a $254,535 repair contract to Judy C. Harp Company, Inc., and the contractor began ordering bridge components and other materials.
The bridge was then closed to safeguard it from further damage – and protect the traveling public – after subsequent inspections found that the conditions of cables had worsened at several locations.
This week, contractors notified engineers that they will begin repair work on Monday, March 16.
The repairs will include installation of temporary support rods and brackets at 19 locations adjacent to damaged suspender cables as a short-term safety measure and to hopefully return the bridge to a more normal weight limit while longer-term repairs are considered.
Work should be complete by April 15, after which bridge inspectors will survey the repairs to make sure the bridge can be safely reopened. When reopened, the bridge will likely be restricted to a lower weight limit.
Until repairs are complete and it passes inspection, the Simon Kenton bridge will remain closed. All US 62 traffic should continue to detour using the William H. Harsha Bridge (US 68) three miles north of Maysville to connect to and from US 52 and US 62 in Ohio.
(provided by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)
