The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is “expediting” the scheduled replacement later this year of a bridge on Clay Street/Kentucky 812 that has been shut down since an emergency closure was ordered last week, a spokesman advised the Hendersonian.
“During an inspection on Monday (May 6), issues were found with the Canoe Creek bridge’s steel support structure that necessitated immediate closure to protect the traveling public and determine next steps,” KYTC spokesman Matt Hughes reported via email.
Significant deterioration can be seen on multiple of the 10 steel I-beams that hold up the concrete bridge, including what appears to be a tennis ball-sized hole in one beam. The tops of some beams, on which the concrete bridge rests, have been so eaten away by corrosion that light shines through where steel should be.
“Because KY 812 serves as a major thoroughfare in the city of Henderson that is frequently used by local school bus traffic, transportation engineers are addressing this unexpected situation as a high priority,” Hughes continued. “Engineers continue to assess the bridge’s current condition to determine if there are ways to reopen it to traffic until a previously planned replacement project is ready to begin.”
The state’s new six-year road plan includes a nearly $1.9 million project this year to replace the existing 41-year-old bridge, which crosses the North Fork of Canoe Creek bridge on Clay Street about midway between Atkinson Street and Kentucky 2084 (formerly U.S. 41-South).
That estimated price tag includes $170,000 for design of the new bridge and $1.7 million for its construction.
That stretch of Clay Street serves as a key entryway and exit for the East End.
It carries an average of 5,779 vehicles a day, according to a state traffic count in 2020. Countywide traffic counts shows that makes it one of the busiest state routes in Henderson County excluding primary highways such as U.S. 60, U.S. 41, U.S. 41-Alternate, Kentucky 351/Second Street, Interstate 69 and the Audubon Parkway.
Detour routes are available, but the options are limited by ongoing road reconstruction related to the extension of Interstate 69 toward the Ohio River.
For example, eastbound traffic can easily leave the East End using Washington Street. But westbound access to Washington Street is limited by a construction-related lane closure on northbound Kentucky 2084. Workarounds are available, but they either require lengthy detours or traveling through the construction zone around outer Second Street/Zion Road, which as of Saturday is limited to one lane in each direction.
Despite the bridge closure and other factors, local officials say they are managing.
Chad Thompson, a Henderson County Schools assistant superintendent, reported that “we are having to detour busses around the closure, however this has not caused any delays in services provided to our students. We have planned accordingly.”
A Henderson Fire Department official said its engine at Fire Station #2 on Kentucky 2084 will have a slight delay reaching the Clay-Atkinson Street area but can access it using Washington Street and either Hicks Street or Burdette Street.
The HART Mass Transit system has implemented a bus detour with a loop traveling Washington Street, North Lincoln Avenue, Kentucky 2084, back to Washington Street, and from there to the Clay-Atkinson Street area.
Henderson Police said last week they weren’t experiencing any issues related to the bridge closure.
