The Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge, a transportation link between Paducah, Ky., and Metropolis, Ill., will experience significant traffic delays as Illinois begins a multi-year construction project in early March.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that traffic on the mile-long bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction for several months at a time over the next three years.
This year’s restrictions are set to begin March 3 and will last until Oct. 14. Similar lane closures will be implemented throughout 2025 and 2026.
The rehabilitation project includes replacing expansion joints, deck overlay, structural steel repairs, bridge painting and additional concrete work. To ensure safety, IDOT said it will install concrete barriers along the length of the bridge and enforce width restrictions.
IDOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) have advised drivers to anticipate congestion, particularly during peak hours, weekends and holiday travel periods.
A smart work zone system will be in place, utilizing message boards and real-time traffic data to update motorists on conditions. Officials also encourage drivers to use a dynamic “zipper” merge to enhance traffic flow at lane closures.
Truck drivers are urged to plan ahead, as the nearest alternative crossing, the U.S. Highway 45 Brookport Bridge, has weight, height and width restrictions prohibiting large commercial vehicles. Semis must instead detour to the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge at Cairo, Illinois, approximately 36 miles away from Kentucky’s side or 58 miles via Illinois.
“When construction projects occur, lanes are often narrowed or closed to accommodate work, leading to a decrease in the available roadway capacity,” Ben Wills, construction engineer for IDOT District 9, told FleetOwner, Roads and Bridges’ sister publication, in a statement. “As a result, trucks may experience delays as traffic becomes more congested in the reduced space.”
The entire project is expected to conclude by September 2027.
Source: FleetOwner, WBKO.com
