Lane restriction lifted on I-24 bridge in time for Thanksgiving travel

UPDATE: A westbound work zone restriction has been removed from the I-24 Tennessee River Bridge at the 30 mile marker.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1 Bridge Crew has completed repairs to a joint on the westbound bridge allowing full-flow traffic in time for Thanksgiving holiday travel.

Both westbound lanes are open at this time.

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Original story:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has restricted westbound traffic to one lane along Interstate 24 at the 30-mile marker at the Livingston-Marshall County Line.

Westbound traffic on I-24 will be restricted to one lane on the Tennessee River Bridge near the 30-mile marker due to a recurring issue with one of the joints. Some of the bolts on the joint have created a tie hazard in the driving lane.  Previous efforts to correct the problem have been unsuccessful.  Bridge engineers will be examining the bolts next week to develop a repair strategy.

Initially, all traffic will move to the left-hand or passing lane in this Westbound work zone

Westbound motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach the 30-mile marker.

The Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge is actually made up of twin tied arch suspension structures at mile point 29.352 at the Marshall-Livingston County Line.

The 2,017-feet structures with a  534-feet main span are also known as the Luther Draffen Bridge. The I-24 Tennessee River Bridge opened to traffic in 1974.  The structure carries approximately 30,000 vehicles across the Tennessee River in an average day.