| Sherman Minton Bridge | |
|---|---|
The bridge as seen from the flood wall in New Albany |
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| Carries | 6 lanes (3 upper, 3 lower) of Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 150 |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Louisville, Kentucky and New Albany, Indiana |
| Maintained by | INDOT |
| Design | Double-decked twin arch bridge |
| Total length | 2,052.9 ft (625.7 m) |
| Width | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Longest span | 800 ft (240 m) |
| Vertical clearance | 16.3 ft (5.0 m) |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Daily traffic | 80,000/day |
| Closed | September 9, 2011 (temporary, for long-term repairs) |
The Sherman Minton Bridge is a double-deck through arch bridge spanning the Ohio River, carrying I-64 and US 150 over the river between Kentucky and Indiana. The bridge connects the west side of Louisville, Kentucky to downtown New Albany, Indiana.
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In 1952 the "Second Street Bridge" was reaching peak traffic, and the K&I Bridge faring similarly. Arthur W. Grafton commissioned two studies in 1952 and 1953, with their results being a need for two bridges in Louisville; one crossing to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and the other to New Albany. Hoosiers as far as Scottsburg, Indiana (30 miles (48 km) away) were vastly against making any bridges toll, and many residents of Louisville were against toll bridges as well.[1] When the Interstate Highway System was announced by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the solution became clear. The Federal government would finance 90% of both bridges, with Indiana paying 10% of the New Albany bridge, and Kentucky paying 10% of the Jeffersonville bridge.[1]
The New Albany bridge was given to Hazelet & Erdal, of Louisville to design in 1956. Construction began in June 1959, and was completed in August 1962. It was built at a cost of $14.8 million. In December 1962 Indiana governor Matthew E. Welsh announced it would be named for the former United States Senator and Supreme Court justice Sherman Minton, who was a native of New Albany.[2] The American Institute of Steel Construction in 1961 named it the most beautiful long-span bridge of the year.[1]
On February 5, 2009, a fifteen container coal barge lost power and was pushed downstream by the current and struck the bridge's central pier. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) closed the bridge for several hours while it was inspected for damage. When no damage was found, the bridge was reopened later the same day.[3]
On September 9, 2011, after consulting Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and transportation engineers, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels ordered the bridge closed. This was done after construction crews found cracks in the main load-bearing structural element. Experts from INDOT, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and private engineering firms and academic institutions participated in determining the severity of this crack and others found on the bridge, and determine whether the bridge could be saved.[4][5][6]
It was initially feared the bridge would remain closed from several months to up to 3 years, as the entire span would have had to been either completely replaced or extensively renovated before the Sherman Minton Bridge could reopen to traffic. However, engineers determined the crack that initiated the bridge closure dated back to the bridge's original construction in the 1960s, but had not been discovered until the summer of 2011 because another structural component was covering it. On September 23, 2011, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the 2.5-inch crack has been repaired, but the bridge would remain closed until crews completed inspecting the remainder of the bridge and make additional repairs as necessary.[7] Five to seven cracks have been discovered in welded areas in a load-bearing steel beam. "The fissures were discovered in a type of steel frequently used in the 1950s and 1960s that is now known to be susceptible to cracking. ...". Repairs are expected to cost $20 million and take six months.[8]
In a news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation, dated October 18, 2011, Governor Mitch Daniels announced that Louisville based Hall Contracting of Kentucky had been awarded the repairs contract in the amount of $13.9 million. A time frame of 135 work days was announce with an incentive of $100,000 per day to finish early. Likewise, a penalty of $100,000 would be deducted from the contract payments for each day over. Repair cost are being covered by the Federal Highway Administration, who announced on September 30, 2011 that it will contribute 25% with the remaining 75% being equally split between Indiana and Kentucky.
The contract will attach 2,400,000 pounds (1,100,000 kg) of reinforcing steel plating along both sides of the bridge ties spanning 1,600 feet (490 m). The repairs along with regular maintenance will increase the bridge’s safety and reliability and extend its useful life at least 20 years.[9]
The bridge is a double-deck configuration—westbound traffic from Kentucky to Indiana travels on the upper deck of the bridge, while eastbound traffic from Indiana into Kentucky travels on the lower deck of the bridge.
The steel used was T1 steel, which in the early 1960s was "innovative material" but is much weaker than modern steel. Classification of the bridge is “fracture critical” because if one part of the bridge should fail, the entire bridge could be at risk.[10]
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