Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) engineers have determined the KY 81 Panther Creek Bridge in southern Daviess County can be repaired and have started an expedited bid and repair process to reopen the bridge to traffic as soon as possible. Daviess County Fiscal Court Judge-Executive Al Mattingly signed an executive order Wednesday declaring a local state of emergency, which officials say will help speed up the bridge repair bidding process.
Daviess County Emergency Management Director Andy Ball said the state of emergency does not mean state financial assistance with the project or any change in the current KYTC designated detour. Because of the executive order, the bidding process, which can take weeks, will be expedited. According to Ball, it was estimated that steel fabrication for the bridge repair could take several weeks and installation another few weeks, but the entire process should be sped up with the deceleration of a state of emergency.
“We want to get that bridge open as quickly as we can,” Ball said.
The Panther Creek Bridge closed after being damaged last month when a truss was struck by scrap steel hanging off the trailer of a passing commercial truck. A detour between Calhoun and Owensboro has been required to travel around the closure. Approximately 5,200 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
According to KYTC District 2 Chief Engineer Deneatra Henderson, the effort to repair the bridge is an ongoing process.
“KYTC District 2 engineers are developing a plan to expedite the work and the contracting process,” Henderson said. “Once that process is completed, we estimate it will take several weeks to fabricate the necessary steel to repair the steel truss structure. After that, we estimate on-site construction could be completed in about 6 to 10 weeks.”
KYTC District 2 engineers worked with the KYTC’s bridge division to determine the feasibility, cost, and schedule of a repair. Details in the plan are still in development.
Opened to traffic in 1934, the 246-foot structure has a 109-foot main span and includes a six-panel Pratt through truss design. The Panther Creek Bridge underwent an extensive painting and maintenance project in the fall of 2018.
Once the repair contract is awarded, KYTC will provide timely updates as the work progresses. Traffic on KY 81 will continue to be routed along a marked detour. Motorists should use appropriate caution along the detour.
