AASHTO Journal, 11 July 2014
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet last week announced it had re-opened the Interstate 75 bridge over Lynn Camp Creek at the Laurel-Whitley county line, which had been closed for emergency repairs, on June 28, more than a month ahead of schedule and in time for the July 4th holiday weekend.
“This is a great example of teams working together toward a common goal—the safety of the traveling public,” said KYTC Secretary and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials President Mike Hancock in a statement. “The efforts by everyone involved resulted in a quicker repair and less headaches for drivers. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of this project.”
The bridge had been partially closed on June 4 after KYTC bridge inspectors discovered a crack in the bridge’s main girder during a scheduled inspection. The department reduced the northbound side of the bridge to one lane to put large steel plates over the cracked girders and bolt them together; $50,000 in work which KYTC hoped to have completed by mid-August.
Working with Intech Contracting LLC, the bridge repairs were completed much sooner than expected, opening all lanes back to traffic and completing all work on Saturday, June 28.
“Everyone associated with this project worked together to assure an efficient response,” said Mike Calebs, branch manager for the Department of Highways, District 11. “Opening the closed lane of I-75 means a lot to the 35,000-plus vehicles that travel daily during this busy summer season. To repair a cracked main girder within four weeks is quite a testament to Intech Contracting and the Transportation Cabinet employees who worked together to get the job done ahead of schedule.”
