The Cairo Bridge carries US Routes 51, 60, and 62 over the Ohio River between Cairo, Illinois, and Wickliffe, Kentucky.
History
The Cairo Bridge, a cantilevered Warren through truss, was designed by Modjeski & Masters of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and constructed by the Mt. Vernon Bridge Company of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 1 between 1936 and 1938. 2 It was the longest bridge in the Illinois and Kentucky, with a total length of 5,865 feet. 7
In 1976, officials from the Kentucky Department of Transportation unveiled plans to rehabilitate the Cairo Bridge extensively. 3 The project included replacing 1,551 feet of the bridge deck and repairing another 4,314 feet. Additionally, the roadway width was to be widened from 20 feet to 22 feet, 6 inches. The state proposed four alternatives for the $3.7 million project: 3 4
- Closing the bridge to all traffic for four to six months.
- Closing the bridge to all traffic except in the morning or afternoon, allowing people to cross for work, resulting in repairs taking eight to ten months.
- Closing only one lane of the bridge, resulting in repairs taking 12 to 14 months.
- Periodically closing the bridge for two months at a time and reopening it for several weeks, resulting in repairs taking 18 to 20 months.
It was decided to close one lane of the bridge to reduce disruptions to fall grain harvests and motorists. 4 Work began in July 1977. 5 The project was initially scheduled for completion in 1978, but a decision to halt construction two months early in 1977 delayed completion until October 1979. 6 The bridge deck was rehabilitated again in 1999. 7
Replacement
In 2013, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) completed a study to determine whether the Cairo Bridge should be rehabilitated or replaced. 2 The study concluded that the bridge should be replaced due to its functional obsolescence, characterized by substandard geometric features and narrow roadway width. Additionally, it was deemed structurally deficient as the original design load was below current standards, and the bridge was likely to collapse in an earthquake due to its location within the New Madrid Seismic Zone. An inspection in 2012 and a load rating analysis in 2013 resulted in a sufficiency rating of 39.8 out of 100. Without structural improvements, the bridge would close to truck traffic by 2025 and to all traffic by 2030.
The study recommended constructing a new bridge with a 900-foot horizontal clearance over the Ohio River navigational channel and a 113-foot vertical clearance. 2 The estimated cost for this new bridge was between $180 million and $210 million.
The study also included an analysis to determine the best corridor for the new bridge. 7 Out of eight initial alternatives, four were selected for further consideration in January 2014. All four were located just north of the existing Cairo Bridge. In October 2021, Alternate 2 was chosen as the preferred alignment due to strong public and industry support and support from the project team. The new bridge would feature two lanes of traffic with 12-foot driving lanes and eight-foot shoulders.
At a meeting on July 11, 2024, the project development team, consisting of KYTC and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), announced that a tied arch bridge would be the design for the river crossing. 8 This design was selected for its lower cost, better constructability, and long-term maintenance and inspection benefits. The bridge will have two lanes of traffic with 12-foot driving lanes and eight-foot shoulders, a 900-foot main span to accommodate river navigation and local fleeting requirements, and will be designed to last 100 years and withstand a 1000-year seismic event. The tied arch will utilize network hanger cables inclined to distribute the weight of trucks and other live loads more evenly, reducing overall demand and increasing efficiency.
At Cairo, a roundabout will be constructed at the junction of US Routes 51, 60, and 62. 8
Geotechnical explorations to sample soils began in 2024, with drilling depths reaching 400 feet below the river’s mud line. 8 This work will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until completion. Right-of-way and land acquisition will begin in late 2024, with construction starting in early 2028. The new bridge is expected to open in 2032.
Gallery
Information
- State: Illinois, Kentucky
- Route: US Routes 51, 60 and 62
- Type: Warren Through Truss
- Status: Active - Automobile
- Total Length: 5,863'
- Main Span Length: 800'
- Deck Width: 22.5'
- Roadway Width: 20'
- Above Vertical Clearance: 19.6'
Sources
- Plaque.
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. US 51 OHIO RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT KYTC Item No. 1-100.00 & 1-1140.00 Wickliffe, KY to Cairo, IL. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
- Bartleman, Bill. “Residents of 3 states air bridge-closing opposition.” Paducah Sun, 25 Jun. 1976, pp. 1A-2A.
- “Roadbuilding at record pace in west Kentucky.” Paducah Sun, 18 Sept. 1977, p. D1.
- Miller, Johnny. “Weather provides respite in grain transport flap.” Paducah Sun, 26 Aug. 1977, p. 3A.
- Miller, Johnny. “Great River Road.” Paducah Sun, 15 Apr. 1979, p. C1.
- Kuntz, Chris. “US 51 Bridge Online Public Meeting.” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 30 Oct. 2021.
- “US 51 Bridge Replacement Public Meeting.” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 11 Jul. 2024.
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