Bridges Work Zone Ends Transition back to normal traffic flow completed August 22nd Henderson, Ky. --  Work on the US 41 Twin Bridges rehab project is complete, ending work zone lane and speed restrictions that have challenged commuters for nearly two years.  Traffic returned to normal flow just before 6:30 a.m., CT, today. When work to paint and rehab the bridges linking Henderson, KY, and Evansville, IN, started in March of 2007, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce asked the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction to help avoid traffic tie ups along the heavily traveled US 41 North Strip leading to the bridges.  That prompted the contractor and transportation engineers to work out plans for running three lanes of traffic on one bridge, allowing two lanes of travel in each direction while freeing up a lane to allow the contractor to space to work. According to Kentucky Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, the work zone demonstrates what happens when everyone works together.

“When challenged to come up with a better traffic control plan to help avoid one lane traffic throughout the two year maintenance project, our engineers worked with the contractor to meet the community’s request,” Prather said.  “In addition to maintaining two lanes of travel in each direction, the work zone restrictions actually reduced the number of crashes that normally occur on this busy river crossing.”

The lane arrangement provided three 10-foot lanes on one bridge  and a normal 12 foot lane on the other.   A strictly enforced 35 mile per hour speed limit with double fines and other traffic restrictions in the work zone were designed to maintain a high level of safety for both commuters and workers.

KYTC Chief District Engineer Ted Merryman says while the contractor and his engineers get high marks for their work zone planning, motorists who endured the work zone restrictions get credit for their high level of cooperation during the work.

“We had a lot of cooperation from the public.  Our regular commuters who depend on this important Ohio River crossing for daily transportation get a lot of credit for helping improve safety and allow the work to move ahead quickly,” Merryman said.  “We appreciate the patience of the driving public and their cooperative spirit during this important bridge maintenance project.”

The $22 million painting and rehab project was designed to help protect and maintain the structural integrity of the bridges.  It should be 15 to 20 years before the bridges will require another coat of paint.

The enhanced police presence required to enforce the 35 mile per hour work zone speed limit helped participating law enforcement agencies work out tactics that will aid speed enforcement efforts now that the normal 55 mile per hour speed limit has been restored.

Merryman says the cooperation of the public, participating police agencies, and emergency response organizations during the rehab work has enhanced future safety efforts.

“When we started this project we were aware that the US 41 Twin Bridges had a high crash rate,” Merryman noted.  “By meeting with our police and emergency response agencies to set up an emergency response team we established a level of cooperation that should help improve safety and emergency response on the bridges well into the future.”

Safety efforts included placing tow trucks and police at each end of the bridges during the morning and afternoon rush to be able to quickly respond to crashes or other emergencies.

M&J Painting of Campbellsville, OH, was the prime contractor on the $22 million rehab and painting project.  The US 41 Twin Bridges northbound structure was opened to traffic in July 1932.  The southbound bridge was opened to traffic in December 1966.  The bridges carry approximately 39,000 vehicles a day across the Ohio River between Henderson, KY, and Evansville, IN.

Keith Todd
Public Information Officer
Department of Highways Districts One and Two