The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opened the bridge's westbound side, carrying two-way traffic for U.S. Highway 68 and Kentucky Highway 80 until work on the eastbound side is completed later this year. The eastbound side will also have a multi-use path across the lake.
Engineers and contractors worked practically around-the-clock all week to finish the westbound side, but still almost postponed the opening until next week when rain and strong winds slowed progress. Right up through Friday morning, crews finished work on guardrails and concrete barriers, diamond grinding and striping of the road surface, and tensioning of bridge support cables.
The old Eggners Ferry Bridge, which was struck by a large cargo vessel in 2012 and had a new span specially built for it, will have its main spans removed as soon as possible. The U.S. Coast Guard requested the spans be removed to help boats navigate the channel on the river, since there is slight offset between the spans of the two bridges.
No formal ceremonies were held Friday, but the Transportation Cabinet expects to hold an event of some kind when four-lane traffic opens on both sections of the new bridge.
