The Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge (US 62) in downtown Maysville will reopen today with a 15-ton restricted weight limit.
Once crews check that traffic signals are operating normally and remove barricades, use of the bridge may resume. Motorists should heed all warning signs and use caution during the traffic switch.
All traffic using the bridge will be restricted to a 15-ton weight limit. Traffic over the posted limit may detour using US 68 and the nearby William Harsha Bridge.
The 1930s-era Simon Kenton bridge, which carries US 62 across the Ohio River between Maysville and Aberdeen, Ohio, closed late last year when inspectors found extensive corrosion damage to several suspender cables – the vertical steel cables extending from the main suspension cable that support the bridge’s driving surface.
This week, contractors completed a temporary repair project that included installation of support rods and brackets to reduce the stress on 19 damaged cables as well as rust-proofing of cables and other components – a short-term fix to keep the bridge open until a full repair project, such as replacing all cables, can be planned.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we worked to repair the Simon Kenton Bridge,” said Steve Gunnell, Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 chief engineer. “It’s an important link for Maysville and our region’s transportation infrastructure.”
(provided by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)
