LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered the immediate closure of the three left lanes of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge. The lanes affected are for those traveling south on Interstate 65.
What You Need To Know
- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered the immediate closure of the three left lanes of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge
- Affected lanes are for those traveling south on Interstate 65
- The Indiana State Police contacted TRIMARC to let them know of the bridge's condition after a report of a large piece of metal in the southbound lanes before finding the grate from the bridge expansion joint had popped out
- Two lanes on the Kennedy are still open to drivers
Officials with the Indiana State Police said troopers were sent to the bridge around 8:30 a.m. May 20 for a report of a large piece of metal in the southbound lanes before finding the grate from the bridge expansion joint had popped out. The Indiana Department of Transportation then had to pull the grate from the roadway with its truck while troopers observed three vehicles that had driven over the expansion joint and had become disabled.
The vehicles were tended to by TRIMARC on the bridge's Kentucky side. ISP then contacted TRIMARC to let them know of the bridge's condition.
Two lanes on the Kennedy are still open to drivers. The lanes are closed so KYTC crews can repair finger joints on a portion of the bridge. Finger joints resemble interlocking fingers and connect slabs of concrete on the bridge, which was built in the 1960s.
KYTC will have signs on the bridge to help drivers, but warn delays are expected and suggest using a different route. The department suggests using navigation apps such as Waze.
The department did not say how long it expects the closure to last.
