Department of Highways, District 5
REPAIRS TO BEGIN ON THE JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL BRIDGE

REPAIRS TO BEGIN ON THE JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL BRIDGE
$18.2 million project involves structural repairs and waterproofing on the deck

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 27, 2012) – Work is scheduled to begin next week on repairs to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge on Interstate 65 over the Ohio River.  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is administering a construction contract for steel and deck repairs to this structure.  Repairs will also be performed on ramp bridges in the I-65/I-64 interchange. 

The project area will be along I-65 from the Main Street overpass in Louisville to the north end of the bridge in southern Indiana (mile points 136.2 to 137.3). 

The $18.2 million project involves replacement of the stringer bearings beneath the bridge deck, replacement of major expansion joints, concrete patching and installation of an asphalt waterproofing membrane for the driving surface.

The first phase of work is to begin Sunday, April 29, with structural steel repairs on the Indiana approaches.  As a result, the right lane of northbound I-65 will be closed from 8 p.m. EDT April 29 until 8 p.m. EDT Friday, May 4.  However, the exit ramp to Jeffersonville, Ind., (Exit 0) will remain open.

In addition, the ramp from eastbound I-64 to northbound I-65 will be closed in the evenings, Sunday, April 29th – Tuesday, May 1st.  This ramp will be closed from 8:00 p.m. each evening until 5:00 a.m. the following morning.  

Following a break for the Kentucky Derby, the Indiana approach work will resume on southbound I-65.  The right southbound lane is scheduled for closure from 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, May 11.

The major bridge construction will begin in mid-June with the bridge being reduced to two lanes in each direction.  The John F. Kennedy Bridge carries an average of 136,000 vehicles per day.

MAC Construction and Excavating, of Louisville, is the contractor.  Work is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 15, 2012.

Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  Traffic information for the District 5 counties is also available at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5.

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