Eggners Ferry Bridge To Be Inspected This Week
By WestKyStar Staff
AURORA, KY - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane with an 8 ft. maximum load width on the US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge at Aurora starting Monday, July 30.
The lane and load width restriction is to allow a detailed inspection of the bridge structure.
The work zone will be restricted to a maximum 8 ft. load width to allow a snooper truck and a work platform to be used to access the bridge substructure. Climbers will also be inspecting the bridge superstructure. The inspection work is expected to take about a week to complete.
All Kentucky bridges get a detailed safety inspection every two years. Long-span bridges over lakes and rivers get an additional general inspection annually.
The bridge opened to traffic in March 1932. In 1943 the bridge was closed for 6 months to allow the bridge to be raised to accommodate higher water levels due to the impounding of Kentucky Lake.
On January 26th a 322 ft. span of the Eggners Ferry Bridge was struck and knocked into Kentucky Lake by an 8200 ton cargo ship. The span was replaced in time to restore the lake crossing by Memorial Day Weekend 2012.