Photo courtesy of WKDZ Radio in Cadiz

Pictured above, the Motor Vessel Delta Mariner after an impact with the Eggner Ferry Bridge on Thursday night leaves portions of the bridge being draped atop the vessel.

 

Eggner Ferry Bridge collapses after Delta Mariner makes impact

(Filed January 27, 2012) At approximately 8:10 p.m. Thursday night, the US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge was struck by a cargo vessel and a portion of the bridge has collapsed.

 

An earlier report from the Coast Guard is that the Motor Vessel Delta Mariner struck the main span of the US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge at about 8:10 p.m. The pilot reported that he was running without any barges in tow at the time. The Captain of the vessel reported no vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the incident and that all 20 members aboard had been accounted for and there were no injuries among them.

 

The vessel is afloat and holding position just downstream from the bridge. The coast Guard has closed Kentucky Lake/The Tennessee River to boat traffic at the site.

 

Kentucky Trasportation Cabinet Engineers are on the bridge at this time to evaluate the stability of the bridge structure. Police and emergency management members are on site to keep everyone off the bridge at this time.

 

Engineers have moved up the approach spans and check each one to determine if there has been collateral damage from the initial impact. As they check each span and are assured it is safe for them to proceed up the bridge, they will move to the next span and check it until they get to the span that has been hit.

 

There is confirmation that two spans of the bridge are down. A full evaluation to determine what repairs, if any that might be possible, will likely take several days.

 

The Kentucky State Police request that motorist who normally travel westbound on US 68 through the Land between the Lakes to please avoid LBL and KY 453 or The Trace as well as US 68.  KSP request motorist to instead use the Interstate 24 corridor to the purchase parkway to access this area.

 

The US 68/KY 80 Eggner’s Ferry Bridge is at US 69 Marshall County mile point 28.146 and Trigg County mile point 0.0 at the western entrance to Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The Bridge carries approximately 2800 vehicles across Kentucky Lake/The Tennessee River in an average day.

 

The bridge opened to traffic in March 1932. In 1943 the bridge was closed for 6 months to allow the bridge to be raised to accommodate higher water levels due to the impounding of Kentucky Lake.

Photo courtesy of WKDZ Radio in Cadiz

Photo courtesy of WKDZ Radio in Cadiz

 

Officials to reduce load limit on U.S. 60 Tennessee River Bridge

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reducing the load limit on the U.S. 60 Tennessee River Bridge to 3 tons. The weight restriction, scheduled to be posted at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10th, essentially limits the bridge to passenger vehicles and standard pick-up trucks only.

 

Jim LeFevre, chief district engineer of Department of Highways District 1, at Paducah, said the 3-ton load limit is necessary for the safety of citizens who depend on the bridge to get to and from work. It also will help ensure that the bridge can remain in service until a new bridge currently under construction upstream can be completed, LeFevre said. Click here for details.

Travis School Equipment, Inc., located at 901 US Highway 68W, Benton, recently honored employees who met their annual goals and who made outstanding contributions in sales and service for the company during 2011. The awards were presented at the annual year-end sales meeting and Christmas party. Those recognized were, from left to right , Jen Leroux, sales representative from the Louisville territory, who received the award as "Rookie of the Year" for her total sales as compared to other first year employees; Darcie Egner for exhibiting exemplary customer service; Andrea Powell for "Salesperson of the Year", reaching and exceeding her sales quota more than any other sales rep; and Alison Prince for her outstanding work leading the bid department and securing the furniture bid for the new Christian County Middle School. All awards were presented by Barry Travis, owner and president of the company.