Kytc Minute - February 2, 2012

Hi, this is Miranda Thacker with your KYTC Minute. Kentucky is faced with another major transportation issue. A section of the bridge that carries U.S. 68 and Kentucky Route 80 over Kentucky Lake in far western Kentucky collapsed on the night of January 26. One span of the 80-year-old bridge was destroyed when the bridge was struck by a large cargo vessel. Engineers from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet rushed to the scene and have been working to determine the extent of damages. Their findings will have a great influence on decisions about how to restore traffic on U.S. 68 and Kentucky 80. The immediate challenge is to find whether a pier under one of the spans next to the impact area has been shifted – and if so, whether it’s still slipping. To do that, the Transportation Cabinet has been using a dive team for underwater inspections. Meanwhile, Transportation Cabinet officials are exploring options for reopening the highway to traffic. It’s the gateway to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The Cabinet has posted signs to detour through-traffic onto Interstate 24, which circles north of the Land Between the Lakes. Motorists may also reroute via U.S. 62 on the northern end and KY 121/Tennessee 119 on the south. It’s important to note that Land Between the Lakes itself is very much open for business, as are the nearby Kenlake and Lake Barkley State Resort Parks. For more information on the bridge closure, visit transportation.ky.gov. This has been your KYTC Minute.