LIVINGSTON COUNTY, Ky. (KBSI) – Explosive demolition for piers of the Old U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge is expected in early January.
Due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, coordination with multiple state and federal agencies required to prepare for the blast is expected to go smoother after the first of the year, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The demolition contractor is continuing to use excavator-mounted jackhammers to weaken the main piers in preparation for final demolition. A crew will drill the piers for explosive placement as a final step before the blast.
To facilitate the blast prep work, drivers traveling the new U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge may encounter one-lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by an automated signal during daylight hours from time to time in coming weeks, according to KYTC.
Due to the location of the main piers, there will be no public viewing area. KYTC District 1 will work with area news media outlets to provide video and photos of the implosion.
KYTC, Jim Smith Contracting and a demolition contractor continue to coordinate with Livingston County Emergency Management, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with a final prep meeting to be set a few days before the blast.
The weather forecast will play a big role in the final date.
The contractor will again establish a 1,500 ft. clear zone around the blast site. The public is asked to stay out of the clear zone to avoid delaying the pier detonation.
The new U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge will close to traffic for a short time. The river will also be closed to navigation for the blast.
Once the piers of the old bridge are taken down, another blast is expected a few weeks later to take out the concrete abutments.
The New U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge at Smithland is also known as the Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge. It opened to traffic on May 15, 2023. The new bridge is at U.S. 60 Livingston County mile point 12.348. The 1,912 foot structure has a 700 foot main truss and 40 fott wide deck that was constructed by Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers.
About 5,100 vehicles cross the Smithland Bridge in an average day, according to KYTC. The bridge is at Cumberland River navigation mile point 2.7.
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Crews work on 2nd concrete pour on main span of new U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge
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