Two blasts to require short closures of new bridge at 9 a.m. and about 11 a.m.

PADUCAH, Ky. (January 4, 2024) – Explosive demolition for piers of the Old U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge has been moved to Saturday morning, January 6, 2024.

The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge will be closed to traffic for about 20 to 30 minutes to accommodate each of two blasts expected at 9 a.m. and around 11 a.m., CST, Saturday.  The demolition contractor will attempt to keep the length of closures on the new bridge as short as possible.

The contractor will again establish a 1,500 ft. clear zone around the blast site.  The public is asked to stay out of the clear zone to avoid delaying the pier detonation.

Due to the location of the main piers, there will be no public viewing area for Saturday’s blast.  However, KYTC District 1 will work with area news media outlets to provide video and photos of the piers being taken down.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Jim Smith Contracting, and a demolition contractor are coordinating blast plans with Livingston County Emergency Management, the Kentucky Division of Mine Reclamation, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge will close to traffic for a short time, and the river will be closed to navigation to execute the blasts on Saturday.

KYTC District 1 will provide additional information on the day of the blasts at www.Facebook.com/KYTCDistrict1.

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The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge at Smithland, also known as the Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge, opened to traffic on May 15, 2023.  The new bridge is at U.S. 60 Livingston County mile point 12.348.  The 1,912 ft. structure with a 700 ft. main truss and 40 ft. wide deck was constructed by Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers.

About 5,100 vehicles cross the Smithland Bridge in an average day.  The bridge is at Cumberland River navigation mile point 2.7.

To get traffic advisories and alerts for KYTC District 1 counties via email, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/signup/13651. Click on the District 1 counties you regularly drive through, or on any of the specialty corridors you travel.  Check your SPAM filtering to assure Gov Delivery is on your approved list.

Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.

Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov, at waze.com, or with the WAZE App.

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