Crews have begun a second major step in the replacement of the 82 year old Milton-Madison Bridge over the Ohio River.
A 727-foot section of steel truss will be hoisted into place today on temporary piers alongside the existing bridge.
The 2,000 ton section was preassembled on the Kentucky side of the river and is being floated to the site on barges.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Andrea Clifford says the process was to begin just after midnight, weather permitting.
"The existing bridge will remain open to traffic. The only aspect of traffic that’s going to be affected is river traffic. The commercial river traffic will be blocked in the main navigational channel for 24 hours," Clifford said.Once the new span is assembled, it will be slid onto the existing bridge’s piers, which are being rehabilitated and strengthened.
The project is scheduled for completion next spring. The bridge carries US 421 traffic over the river between Milton, Kentucky and Madison, Indiana.
