Construction in Kentucky

If you’ve got $5.1 million to spend, a bridge construction project will do.

Truckers planning to travel on Route 51 and 62, between Kentucky and Illinois (south west of Paducah, KY) should plan on some delays starting Monday, March 12, 2007. Workers will begin work on the Wickliffe-Cairo Bridge Monday around 9 am. The Wickliffe-Cairo Bridge is at the junction of US Route 51, US Route 60 and US Route 62.

There will be height and width restrictions during the bridge construction project- which is expected to last until November 1, 2007. Truckers with oversize loads will need to think ahead. There is a height restriction of 16 feet during construction. From 6 am to 9 pm each day, wide loads over 10 feet wide are prohibited. From 9 pm to 6 am each day, wide loads over 16 feet wide are prohibited.

Travel will be reduced to one lane on the bridge that spans the Mississippi River- so plan on sitting around waiting for a green light. Under normal circumstances, about 5,500 vehicles cross the Wickliffe-Cairo Bridge in a single day. If you were planning to travel that way, you may want to choose another route.

The Wickliffe-Cairo Bridge crosses the Mississippi near I 57 at the borders of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.

For more information, go to 511.ky.gov which is the Kentucky Traffic and Travel Information website.