Bids Requested For Smithland Bridge Repairs

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has issued a speedy bid request for repair work on the US 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland.

KYTC says an emergency quote request was issued this week, providing contractors with a 10-day window to present proposals for repairs to a stringer that had been damaged by overweight trucks crossing the structure.  The emergency quote request requires bids to be presented by Friday, September 6.

Once bids are presented from the pre-approved bridge repair contractors, the Division of Purchases will review submissions and award the contract to the lowest bidder.  After that process, District 1 engineers assume that once the necessary materials have been created, work could begin within two weeks.

Reduced load limits had previously been posted for the US 60 Cumberland River Bridge on July 24, after inspectors had determined a stringer below the bridge deck had been damaged by overweight trucks.

Reduced load limits are still in effect on the bridge:

•    Type 1: 17 tons—Two axle single unit trucks
•    Type 2: 18 tons—Three axle single unit trucks
•    Type 3:  20 tons—Four axle single unit trucks
•    Type 4: 32 tons—Five axle SEMI trucks
•    Single Unit Vehicle with five axles: 22 tons
•    Single Unit Vehicle with 6 axles: 22 tons
•    Single Unit Vehicle with 7+ axles: 24 tons

The KYTC is in the final design stages for construction of a new bridge which will be placed immediately downstream from the existing structure.  The new $45 million bridge remains on track for bidding in February of 2020 with construction expected to take about two years to complete.