HENDERSON, Ky. — Lane striping on the US 41 Twin Bridges will be adjusted during the overnight hours Friday to reduce traffic load on the shoulder of the bridge approach.

Engineers say increased loading has combined with extremely wet weather to cause pavement cracking along the southbound “Extra” lane at the edge of the shoulder on the Henderson end of the bridge approach.

To alleviate the problem, crews will reduce the approach lane widths from 12 to 10 feet for both northbound lanes and the “extra” southbound lane. To complete the reconfiguration, traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction beginning at 8 p.m. CDT, Friday, April 18th. Crews expect to work through the night to complete the re-striping.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 construction engineer Byron Johnson said extremely wet conditions softened the sub-soil under the south-end approach and caused the pavement to flex as loaded trucks make the transition back to normal southbound lanes.

“Shifting traffic away from the cracked and rutted shoulder edge is expected to prevent further deterioration,” said Johnson.

During rehab and painting work, all southbound traffic is moved to the northbound structure’s “extra” lane overnight while its southbound twin undergoes rehabilitation work. The change on the Henderson end of the northbound bridge makes the approach lanes the same width as the three 10-foot lanes on the bridge deck.

Crews will wait for an extended period of dry weather before attempting to repair the deteriorated area.

All traffic on the bridges is subject to a strictly enforced 35 mph speed limit with double fines in the work zone and an enhanced police presence. No lane changes are allowed in the work zone.

M&J Painting of Campbellsville, OH, is 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.

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