Department of Highways, District 5
3-ton weight limit on Milton-Madison Bridge being strictly enforced

3-ton weight limit on Milton-Madison Bridge being strictly enforced
Law enforcement present on both sides of the bridge

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Law enforcement agencies from Kentucky and Indiana are posted at each end of the Milton-Madison Bridge to strictly enforce a 3-ton weight limit.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) lowered the posted weight limit for the bridge from 15 tons to 3 tons based on new inspections that showed continued deterioration of the 82-year-old bridge, which carries U.S. 421 across the Ohio River between Milton, Ky., and Madison, Ind.
 
“Enforcement of the 3-ton weight limit is necessary to alleviate stress on the Milton-Madison Bridge and keep it open to passenger vehicles,” said Matt Bullock, chief district engineer for the Department of Highways, Louisville District, which includes the city of Milton.  “We appreciate the assistance of enforcement agencies from Indiana and Kentucky to help preserve this structure for passenger vehicles while the new bridge is being built.”

Only vehicles weighing less than 3 tons will be allowed to cross the bridge.  This “total vehicle weight” includes any attached loads or trailers.  Motorists can search the Web to find their vehicle’s Curb Weight, which is the actual weight of the vehicle without passengers or cargo. Any Internet search engine, with search terms “curb weight” and vehicle name, should yield the information.

Vehicles weighing over 3 tons will be turned back and must take an alternate route to cross the Ohio River.  The nearest Ohio River bridges are 46 miles downstream in Louisville, Ky., and 26 miles upstream near Vevay, Ind.  Signs have been updated on regional routes to alert motorists to the lower weight restriction. 

Special provisions have been coordinated with law enforcement and emergency service agencies to provide access for ambulances.

The 3-ton weight limit will remain in place while traffic is using the existing bridge. The weight limit will be increased to 15 tons once traffic is switched to a new bridge in its temporary alignment near the end of 2012. Once the new bridge is open in its permanent alignment, the weight restrictions will be removed.

Construction began in early 2011 to replace the 20-foot-wide Milton-Madison Bridge.  A new, 2,400-foot-long steel truss bridge will be built on temporary piers, then slid into place on the existing piers, which are being strengthened to meet modern standards. Once complete, the new wider bridge will lie within the footprint of the existing bridge.  

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