Kentuckiana bridges: Which ones need repairs? What 7 inspection reports show us
Chances are that if you commute in Louisville, you'll probably have to cross over at least one bridge as you head to and from work or school every day — but how safe are they?
A bridge inspection database from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet shows that some of the bridges tens of thousands of vehicles drive on each day are in poor condition.
Below are the report cards for the Kentuckiana bridges that receive the most traffic, but first, here are some terms to note while reading the reports:
Deck — the surface of the bridge, which vehicles travel on
Superstructure— the parts of the bridge that support the deck
Substructure — the parts of the bridge that support the superstructure
Sherman Minton Bridge
Built in 1961 and reconstructed in 1997, the Sherman Minton Bridge connects Interstate 64 and U.S. 150 from Louisville to New Albany. On average, 81,936 vehicles cross the bridge every day, with 9% of vehicles being trucks. An estimated 90,129 vehicles are estimated to cross the bridge daily in 2036. The bridge received an overall grade of "Fair" from bridge inspectors with the Indiana Department of Transportation in September 2021.
The Sherman Minton Renewal, an ongoing project meant to extend the life of the bridge, began in July 2021.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
Superstructure: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
Substructure: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Clark Memorial Bridge
Built in 1929 and reconstructed in 1958, the Clark Memorial Bridge connects Louisville to Jeffersonville via U.S. 31. On average, 23,881 vehicles cross the bridge every day, with 11% of vehicles being trucks, according to a 2020 estimate. The bridge received an overall grade of "Fair" from inspectors with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in September 2023.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Superstructure: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
Substructure: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
John F. Kennedy Bridge
Built in 1964 and reconstructed in 2016, the Kennedy Bridge carries Interstate 65 southbound traffic from southern Indiana into Louisville. Over 60,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, according to the latest bridge inspection report. The bridge received an overall grade of "Fair" from the inspectors with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in December 2022.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Good Condition — some minor problems
Superstructure: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
Substructure: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Abraham Lincoln Bridge
Built in 2016, the Lincoln Bridge carries Interstate 65 northbound traffic from Louisville into southern Indiana. Over 60,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, according to the latest bridge inspection report. An estimated 66,550 vehicles will use the bridge daily by 2028. The bridge received an overall grade of "Good" from inspectors with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in September 2022.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Good Condition — some minor problems
Superstructure: Good Condition — some minor problems
Substructure: Good Condition — some minor problems
Lewis and Clark Bridge
Built in 2016, the Lewis and Clark Bridge carries vehicle traffic over the Ohio River, between Utica, Indiana and Prospect, Kentucky. Around 73,756 vehicles used the bridge daily in 2017, with 15% of traffic being from trucks. An estimated 88,506 vehicles will cross the bridge in 2037, according to a 2022 inspection report. Inspectors with the Indiana Department of Transportation graded the bridge as "Good" in June 2022.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Very Good Condition — no problems noted
Superstructure: Very Good Condition — no problems noted
Substructure: Very Good Condition — no problems noted
I-64 over River Road
Built in 1965, the I-64 overpass above River Road is projected to carry 158,400 vehicles daily by 2028. The bridge received a grade of "Poor" from inspectors with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in August 2023.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Superstructure: Poor Condition — advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour
Substructure: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Interstate 264 East at Dixie Highway
Built in 1974, the bridge goes over the westbound on-ramp that carries vehicle traffic from Dixie Highway. The bridge carried an estimated 81,002 vehicles daily in 2020, according to a June 2021 inspection report. The bridge received a grade of "Poor" from inspectors with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in June 2023.
Here are some other grades the bridge received from the latest inspection:
Deck: Poor Condition — advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour
Superstructure: Satisfactory Condition — structural elements show some minor deterioration
Substructure: Fair Condition — all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect data collected by the National Bridge Inventory in 2023.
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@courierjournal.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Reports: Some major bridges in Louisville in need of repair
