AURORA, Ky. - Kentucky's governor on Friday promised speedy
work to begin replacing a bridge that partially collapsed when
it was struck by a cargo ship hauling parts for a space rocket.

Two spans (about 20 feet) of the Eggner Ferry Bridge at US 68
and Kentucky 80 were destroyed Thursday night by the Delta
Mariner, which was too tall to pass beneath the structure. No
injuries were reported on the bridge or in the boat, which was
carrying rocket components from Decatur, Ala., to Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The ship was traveling on the Tennessee River on its typical
route to Florida's Atlantic coast when it hit the aging steel
bridge, which was built in the 1930s and handles about 2,800
vehicles a day.

Ship crash brings
down part of Ky. bridge^[1]

Inspections by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have said
that besides the sections that are missing, there is some
damage on other spans andto the superstructure of the bridge,
according to CBS affiliate WLKY
in Louisville, Ky.^[2]

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the collision. And it's
too early to speculate on exactly what caused the wreck until
that probe is done, said Sam Sacco, a spokesman for ship owner
and operator Foss Marine.

Sacco said the boat was not severely damaged, and some of the
crew remained on the ship Friday afternoon to make sure the
cargo is safe.

Gov. Steve Beshear on Friday said an immediate review of
options to restore the bridge would take place.

"We'll turn our attention to a full inspection of the bridge
and determine what steps we can take next to speed up the
replacement of that important artery," Beshear said.

The 312-foot Delta Mariner hauls rocket parts for the Delta and
Atlas systems to launch stations in Florida and California,
according to a statement from United Launch Alliance, which
builds the rocket parts in Alabama. The cargo was not damaged
in the collision with the bridge, the company said.

The rocket parts are used by the Air Force, NASA and private
companies to send satellites into space, said Jessica Frye, a
spokeswoman with United Launch Alliance.

Sacco said the ship's typical route to Florida takes it along
the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, then onto the Mississippi River
to the Gulf of Mexico and on to Florida's east coast.

According to CBS Radio, four vehicles were on the bridge at the
time of the collision.

Robert Parker was on the bridge Thursday night and said he had
to slam on his brakes when he saw a section missing ahead of
him. He says two cars behind him did the same, one almost
hitting his bumper.

"All of a sudden I see the road's gone and I hit the brakes,"
said Parker, who lives in Cadiz. "It got close."

Parker said he stopped his pickup within five feet of the
missing section. He said he didn't feel the vessel strike the
bridge but "felt the bridge was kind of weak."

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson and Transportation Cabinet Secretary
Mike Hancock were visiting the crash area Friday, officials
said.

Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd told The Paducah
Sun he believes most of the navigational lights were
functioning on the bridge at the time of the impact. However,
WLKY reported that a Coast Guard inspection revealed a few
lights were out on Tuesday, and were only set to be replaced on
Friday.

The bridge opened in 1932, connecting Trigg County and Marshall
County at the western entrance to Land Between the Lakes
National Recreation Area. According to CBS affiliate WKYT
in Lexington, Kentucky^[3], about
3,000 commuters use the bridge every day.

The transportation cabinet said the bridge was in the process
of being replaced, and preconstruction work began months ago.

References

1. ^{^} Ship crash brings down part of
   Ky. bridge (www.cbsnews.com)
2. ^{^} CBS affiliate WLKY in Louisville,
   Ky. (www.wlky.com)
3. ^{^} CBS affiliate WKYT in Lexington,
   Kentucky (www.wkyt.com)

Governor Steve Beshear today announced the immediate review of
options for restoring the US 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake
after a large vessel struck the span last night and destroyed a
main truss.

Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson and Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock will visit the bridge today and
talk with local officials about the investigation, alternate
routing, and impact on nearby communities.

"We are grateful that this wreck caused no injuries or loss of
life. Since that bridge carries 2,800 cars every day, we were
very fortunate that no one was on the span at that time," said
Gov. Beshear. "We'll turn our attention to a full inspection of
the bridge and determine what steps we can take next to speed
up the replacement of that important artery."

A cargo ship hit the bridge deck Thursday night, which
collapsed across the bow of the cargo ship. The bridge was
designed so that if it were struck, only portions of the
structure would fail, not the entire bridge. Inspectors
estimate the gap in the bridge to be approximately 300 feet
wide.

Search teams in boats from the Aurora Fire Department and
Marshall County Rescue Squad found no indication that vehicles
fell from the bridge when the vessel struck. The U.S. Coast
Guard said the ship did not contain hazardous cargo.

Inspectors and emergency responders from the Kentucky
Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) rushed to the scene. KYTC
engineers made a preliminary inspection and began an in-depth
inspection this morning. They are evaluating the stability of
the remaining parts of the bridge as well as assessing the
damage.

"We had already committed in our new six-year highway plan to
replace this bridge, because we know what an important route it
is for our citizens in western Kentucky," said Lt. Gov.
Abramson. "We will shift our focus to determining how to
restore that route as quickly and safely as we can."

"At this moment, we're assessing the situation to see whether
repair is feasible. We also will be exploring whether
construction of the new bridge can be accelerated," said Sec.
Hancock.

The two-lane bridge - formally the Eggner's Ferry Bridge - is
at the western entrance to Land Between the Lakes National
Recreation Area. It opened to traffic in 1932. Its elevation
was raised in 1943 when the Tennessee River was impounded to
create Kentucky Lake.

On average, the bridge carries approximately 2,800 vehicles
across the lake per day. The Transportation Cabinet is in the
initial phases of replacing the bridge, along with the nearby
bridge over Lake Barkley on the eastern side of Land Between
the Lakes. Preconstruction work, including geotechnical
drilling, began months ago.

"I appreciate the quick response by the Governor and Kentucky
Transportation Cabinet to help this situation in western
Kentucky," said Sen. Bob Leeper, of Paducah. "I look forward to
working with them to explore all the available possibilities
for a solution for the transportation needs of this area."

"I encourage our citizens to remain calm and patient as our
state transportation officials investigate the structure and
determine next steps," said Sen. Ken Winters, of Murray. "I
thank the Governor and Transportation Secretary for their
immediate attention to this matter, and I hope that they will
fully explore many alternatives, even temporary bridges, to
best serve the people of western Kentucky."

"I think Governor Beshear's plan for an immediate review of our
available options is an excellent first step in getting this
bridge back open," said Rep. Will Coursey, of Symsonia. "I have
been working with House leaders to see what more we can do
while we are in legislative session, and want the people to
know that the General Assembly stands ready to act."

With loss of the bridge, motorists will be advised to take
alternate routes, such as Interstate 24 around the northern end
of Land Between the Lakes.

In reaction to the collapse of the Eggner Ferry Bridge in
Western Kentucky Thursday, Sen. Rand Paul offered the following
statement.

"I am relieved that it appears no one was hurt in the accident.
I have used the bridge many times and know how big of an
inconvenience it will be for people to take the long way around
the lakes. I will visit the bridge today to meet with local
officials and find out what happened and what must happen to
get the road reopened, and I will do what I can to help with
this situation" Sen. Paul said.

Sen. Paul will be traveling to the bridge site today.