Panther Creek bridge will not reopen; structure must be replaced – The Owensboro Times

The Panther Creek bridge on KY 81 will not reopen until the entire structure can be replaced, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. A temporary bridge could be installed in the coming months to the East side of the structure.

The bridge was damaged last week by an oversized vehicle that impacted every crossmember along the top portion of the structure. A final analysis of damage to the bridge indicates that it will not reopen to traffic.

We are working closely with the Secretarys office in Frankfort to secure the funds necessary to replace the existing structure, said Chief District Engineer Deneatra Henderson. We are considering a design-build style procurement to allow us to expedite the process. Typically, projects of this nature tend to move a little faster.

A timeline to replace the structure is unknown at this time. The timeline for a temporary bridge to be opened to traffic over Panther Creek is roughly 8-10 weeks.

Before arriving on-site to examine the damage to the bridge, I had already reached out to a contractor with a military-style temporary structure, Henderson said. We were able to receive permission from the adjoining property owners to remove trees on the East side of the bridge, in preparation for the installation of the temporary structure.

While the damage is very similar to what occurred in August of 2019, the heat-straightening technique used to repair the bridge cannot be used again, as the steel is already brittle from previous repairs.

That was demonstrated during the new impact, with the evidence of cracking along the bolt holes at some of the beams. Because of this, engineers in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Bridge Division have determined that the bridge cannot reopen, and repairs would not be cost effective when compared to the cost of replacement.

Traffic on KY 81 is being routed along a marked detour on KY 554 and U.S. 431. Motorists should use appropriate caution along the detour, and larger vehicles should not attempt to shorten their route by making the turns with Todd Bridge Road. There are variable message boards along the route to encourage motorists to stay on the marked detour.

The impact occurred May 18 but was not discovered until May 21. The Kentucky State Police are still investigating the crash. Troopers are asking anyone who has a home or business security camera on KY 56 and KY 81 to check May 18 between the hours of 1-3 pm for footage containing the vehicle in the photos below.

Anyone who has additional pictures and/or can establish the identity of the owner/operator of the pictured vehicle, please contact KSP at 270-826-3312.

Opened to traffic in 1934, the 246-foot structure with a 109-foot main span includes a 6-panel Pratt through truss design. The Panther Creek Bridge underwent an extensive painting and maintenance project in the fall of 2018. In August of 2019, it was damaged by a truck carrying a load of metal and closed to traffic. The bridge reopened two days prior to Thanksgiving 2019. Approximately 5,200 vehicles cross the bridge each day.

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Panther Creek bridge will not reopen; structure must be replaced - The Owensboro Times