Tom Warne Report, 16 September 2011
INDIANAPOLIS – The Governor of Indiana has indefinitely shut dwn the Sherman Minton Bridge between Indiana and Kentucky near Louisville, following the discovery of a crack in the critical load-carrying element of the bridge. Structural engineers from the state and private sectors, as well as from engineering universities, recommended closing the bridge after examining the crack report. Experts have been at the bridge in past weeks performing ongoing maintenance and detailed inspections.
After consulting with Indiana whose DOT maintains the bridge, Kentucky transportation officials and the Federal Highway Administration, Gov. Mitch Daniels immediately decided to close the bridge which carries I-64 traffic over the Ohio River.
The closure is indefinite pending further notice; further examinations of the structure will take place in the coming days. Traffic is being detoured over I-265 and I-65. The Indiana Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Federal Highway Administration, will keep the public informed as it develops a traffic plan for the coming workweek and as more information becomes available.