Work starting on $12 million repair to US 68-Lawrence Creek bridge in Maysville
Expected completion date of May 31, 2021
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2020) – Contractors will start repairs this month on the US 68 bridge over Lawrence Creek in Mason County as part of a $12 million Kentucky Transportation Cabinet project to stabilize the structure's foundation.
Since its construction in 1996, the Lawrence Creek bridge's embankments have settled more than anticipated. While not an immediate safety hazard, the settling has caused additional stress and damage to the supporting abutments on each end of the bridge, which necessitated the repairs.
Repairs include drilling into bedrock underneath the bridge to install additional steel-reinforced supports, called pilings, under the abutments and piers. These pilings are designed to prevent further damage from the settling.
Contractors will start moving equipment into the area this week. There will be no traffic changes, but motorists should expect increased construction traffic on US 68 and KY 3056 near the bridge.
Work will take place underneath and on top of the bridge, and by mid-March traffic on US 68 across the bridge will be restricted to a 35 mph work zone with concrete barrier walls separating vehicles from work areas. Traffic will be maintained with one lane each direction throughout the project.
In addition, the bridge will remain restricted from any overweight or overdimensional traffic. Located on US 68 at mile marker 17 approximately 1 mile west of the Ohio River, the bridge has been posted at the following Kentucky roadway legal limits:
- Type 1: 20 tons (single unit trucks of 2 single axles)
- Type 2: 27 tons (single unit trucks of 1 steering axle, 2 tandem axles)
- Type 3: 34 tons (single unit trucks of 1 steering axle, 3 tridem axles)
- Type 4: 40 tons (tractor-semitrailer truck of 5 or more axles)
- Single Unit Vehicle 5+ Axles: 40 tons
Engineers began planning repairs to the Lawrence Creek bridge in 2018, then advertised a construction project last fall. In November, the Transportation Cabinet awarded a $12,250,990.40 low-bid contract to C.J. Mahan Construction Co. LLC for the project with a May 31, 2021, expected completion date.
Once complete, the bridge will look no different than it does today, but the additional support from the pilings and other work will safeguard the bridge for decades to come.
Currently, the damage to the bridge, which carries about 4,800 vehicles per day, poses no danger to the traveling public. All highway bridges are routinely inspected to determine their capacity and condition.
###
