Eureka Highway Bridge

Prior to the completion of the Eureka Highway Bridge, US Route 62 was routed east of Paducah through Smithland and Kuttawa crossing over the Cumberland River on a private toll ferry at Iuka. ¹ During the development of Tennessee Valley Authority’s dam across the Tennessee River at Gilbertsville, it was decided to route US Route 62 atop the dam and build a bridge across the Cumberland River four miles to the east.

The state had initially planned to construct a toll bridge which was permitted under the federal toll bridge law that permitted it to buy competing ferries on the theory it would stimulate traffic across the toll bridge, hastening its freedom from tolls after the construction bonds were paid off. ¹ It was under that understanding that the state would buy the Iuka Ferry. The Federal government refused to accept the toll bridge proposal which forced the state to construct the Cumberland River bridge as a toll-free facility.

A $429,439 contract for the steel superstructure and concrete driving deck was awarded to the John F. Beasley Construction Company of Chicago in March 1950. ² The new Eureka Highway Bridge opened to traffic in June 1952. ¹ Upon its completion, US Route 62 was rerouted from its Smithland to Kuttawa alignment and onto a new two-lane route between Paducah and Kuttawa.