Michael Goins, Executive Director of the Office of Public Affairs (502) 564-3419

Louisville, Kentucky—(October 14, 2004)—Officials from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet displayed the colors that will be used on the John F. Kennedy Bridge by painting a ceremonial beam today down at Waterfront Park. The beam will remain at the contractor’s staging lot throughout the project. Today’s painters included Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Maxwell Clay Bailey, Commissioner of Highways Marc Williams and District Five Chief District Engineer Barry Sanders.

A contract was awarded in June to Atlantic Painting Company, Inc. to paint the bridge, which connects downtown Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana. Atlantic, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, began working on site in August and the entire project will be completed by July 31, 2006.

"We want this project to have a minimal impact for motorists who travel this route daily," said Transportation Secretary Maxwell Bailey. Lane closures will occur only on nights and weekends. Generally, only one lane in each direction will be closed. However, when the contractor is installing containment on the upper truss, two lanes may be closed in each direction between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

The paint, supplied by Sherwin Williams, will be green, beige and chestnut brown. "The majority of the painting will be done from top to bottom and from the Kentucky to Indiana side," explained Commissioner of Highways Marc Williams. Paint is currently being applied to the bottom of the bridge between the pier on the Kentucky side and the first pier in the Ohio River.

Work will involve the complete removal of lead paint through abrasive blasting and repainting of the entire bridge using an environmentally approved process. This paint job is expected to last 30-40 years.

The John F. Kennedy Bridge opened to traffic on December 6, 1963 and carries an average of 132, 000 vehicles a day.

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