A section of Clay Street/Kentucky 812 has been closed to traffic because of the emergency closure Monday of the bridge over the North Fork of Canoe Creek, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).
“The length of the closure is indefinite while KYTC engineers examine (a) possible deterioration issue with the bridge’s steel substructure,” the cabinet said in a news release early Monday afternoon.
The bridge is located about midway between Atkinson Street and Kentucky 2084 (formerly U.S. 41-South).
Vehicles can get around the bridge closure by traveling on Washington Street, among other detours.
Built in 1983, it carries an average of 5,779 vehicles a day, according to a traffic count in 2020 by the cabinet.
The governor’s recommended six-year road plan this year included an estimated $1.9 million project related to the Canoe Creek bridge on Clay Street in 2024.
The Hendersonian has contacted the Transportation Cabinet to determine whether that involves a replacement of the existing bridge and what the projected schedule is. However, a spokesman said state offices were closing Tuesday afternoon because of threatening weather, so details weren’t immediately available.
City of Henderson Public Relations Director Holli Blanford provided the following information concerning how the bridge closure is impacting municipal operations:
Henderson Police Department: Acting Police Chief Bob Shoultz said the bridge closure is currently not presenting any issues for HPD officers.
HART Mass Transit: There is currently a detour on the East End route because of the closing of the bridge. While the closure is in place, HART buses will not run Clay Street between Burdette Street and Kentucky 2084.
The detour will include a left turn from Washington Street onto North Lincoln Avenue; then a right turn onto southbound Kentucky 2084, then a right turn back onto Washington Street. The route will then resume as normal at Clay Street and Atkinson Street.
Henderson Fire Department: Fire Chief Josh Dixon said HFD Engine 2 will have a slight delay reaching the Clay Street area due to the bridge closure. However, they do still have access to Clay Street through Hicks Street and Burdette Street.
A Henderson County Schools spokesperson didn’t respond to an inquiry on whether the bridge closure was impacting Henderson County school bus routes or other operations.
