A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close the existing US68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge at Canton in Trigg County on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 14 and 15, 2017.
The Lake Barkley Bridge at Canton is expected to close promptly at 9 a.m, CST, on Tuesday, February 14th, and remain closed for up to 48 hours to allow placement of the main arch span on the New Lake Barkley Bridge under construction just downstream from the existing bridge. US 68/KY 80 taffic will be detoured via Interstate 24, the Purchase Parkway, and US 641. This will add about 26 minutes of driving time or 35 miles to a trip between Cadiz and Murray.
In addition to closing the existing US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge to vehicular traffic for up to 48 hours, commercial tow boat traffic and pleasure boat traffic on Lake Barkley will also be halted for up to 24 hours.
There will be a 2000 ft clear zone around the work area during placement of the 55 ft. basket handle steel arch.
The existing US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge is at U.S. 68 mile point 8.56 in Trigg County and services as the eastern entrance to Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The bridge is at Cumberland River navigation mile point 63.1.
Engineers for PCL Constructors have indicated the move will require winds below 15 miles per hour. The contractor, KYTC engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard will have a go/no-go meeting on Monday, Feb. 13, to determine if placement of the arch can proceed as planned on Tuesday. If weather is expected to be favorable on Tuesday, officials will put the following plans in motion for Feb. 14:
* U.S. Coast Guard will close the navigational channel at 7:00 a.m., CST, for up to 72 hours
* KYTC will close U.S. 68 promptly at 9:00 a.m. CST for up to 48 hours
* A 2,000-foot clear zone will be established around the work site
* U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency agencies will assist with water patrols
* KYTC personnel and area police agencies will assist with security for the work site
The public is asked o be respectful of private property along the eastern shoreline of Lake Barkley at Canton. The best opportunity for the public to view the arch placement is in the Land Between The Lakes along the downstream shoreline from the new bridge.
PCL Civil Construction of Denver is the prime contractor on the $128.3 million project. The new bridge is expected to be ready for 2-lane traffic sometime in the Spring of 2018 with finish work on the new bridge continuing through 2018.