Ohio River bridge work to restrict truck traffic

PADUCAH, Ky. -- A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., that will impact truck traffic this summer. Trucks will be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24. According to KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd, the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend in the bridge to be aware of the project, which will involve repairs on deck stringers and replacement of seven joints on the decking. "This work will exclude trucks and other large vehicles such as motor homes from the bridge for about 70 days," Todd said. Excluding commercial trucks and other large vehicles from the bridge work zone turns a six-mile trip from Wickliffe to Cairo into about an 80-mile detour via the Interstate 24 Ohio River bridge at Paducah. By falling in the window for harvesting wheat, the original project schedule would have created issues for farmers attempting to haul crop to grain facilities. That prompted transportation officials to delay the project start date two weeks. The contractor is fabricating steel needed for the repair work. As that preliminary work nears completion, the contractor will schedule a more specific start date.

Howell Street, Cape Rock Drive closures to begin

Zoellner Construction of Perryville, Mo., will begin working on the Howell Street bridge near Jane Drive, starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday. According to the Cape Girardeau Department of Public Works, the work will close the bridge for approximately five weeks. Tasks will include removing the existing box culvert structure and replacing it with a new, single-span bridge. Detour signs will be set up to guide motorists around the work area. Funding for the $508,000 contract was made available by the 2008 Parks and Recreation Stormwater Tax. Once the Howell Street bridge is completed, possibly in early July, work will begin on the Cape Rock Drive bridge near Dennis Scivally Park. Images and maps of the construction areas are available at blog.cityofcapegirardeau.org/howell-street-and-cape-rock-drive-summer-road-closures-begin-may-28/

All work is weather permitting. Work zones will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling near those areas. For more information, contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center at 888-275-6636, or visit modot.org/southeast.

-- From the Missouri Department of Transportation, Cape Girardeau Department of Public Works