I 64 bridge closed down going to Lou.

[powderman]

http://www.whas11.com/news/politics/Sherman-Minton-Bridge-welds-vertical-cracks-concern-engineers-130146593.html


This is the only bridge over the Ohio river between Lou and New Albany In. There are 2 other bridges but I've heard delays are terribly long. Went to a funeral 2 wks ago and a lady said that traffic was backed up 10 miles just to get to the detour. Coming home from Ill a state worker said that there was still at least a 2 hr delay just to get to the bypass. This does not affect me. It shows me how vulnerable we all are to terrorist attacks and how devestating it could be to have sections of bridges blown up accross America. This was from cracked supports. POWDERMAN. 

[Graybeard]

There really aren't all that many bridges across the big muddy and the few there are sure determine where east-west traffic can flow. For me headed west there are two main options the southern route in southern MS or the northern route thru Memphis.

Yes highway traffic could be stopped from flowing across the MS river with darn few strikes. Another thing to consider is that like the bridge you mention our infrastructure is in sad shape and is falling apart as little to no replairs have been done since they were built and few replacements have been built either.

[powderman]

Theres another bridge but from what I hear it's a nightmare just getting to it. The closed bridge is 50 yrs old they said and took 3 years to build. They've been arguing over a proposed 2 new bridges for 11 or 12 years now. Maybe this will wake some of them up. The head of Humana offered an interest free loan of $10 million if they would at least START a new bridge. I can't remember all of the so called studies they have paid untold millions for. They showed a few year ago that the closed bridge had shifted over a ft in the column holding part of it up after a barge hit it, which has happened several times. Last time our local bridge was hit we had to go almost 80 miles South to cross the Ohio river, it reopened next day. POWDERMAN.   

[Empty Quiver]

Easy to take the infrastructure for granted. Most of us can't remember a time when things were complicated by nature.

[Casull]

Powderman, that is the I65 bridge isn't it (not I64)?  If so, I'm surprised it's lasted this long.  That thing would jar your fillings lose for the last 5 or 6 years.  I probably cross it 4 to 8 times a year traveling between IL and KY (and now IL and VA).

[Old Syko]

Powderman, that is the I65 bridge isn't it (not I64)?  If so, I'm surprised it's lasted this long.  That thing would jar your fillings lose for the last 5 or 6 years.  I probably cross it 4 to 8 times a year traveling between IL and KY (and now IL and VA).

Nope.  The closed bridge is the Sherman Minton on I64.  The Kennedy and Clark bridges on I65 are now holding the full load but taking a real beating in the process.  As stated there has already been enough wasted in studies and proposals to have covered much of the expense of what is needed.

[powderman]

CASULL. Old SYKO is right. The bridge you talk about is one of the GOOD ones now. News said that the remaining 2 bridges were not built to modern standards and were not designed for the heavy traffic they are getting. A couple of years ago they were working on the bridge closest to us and it was dwn to one lane. We had to stop about 1/3 of the way accross. Youd be amazed how much those bridges move when vehicles drive accross, almost like being in an earthquake, bouncing up and down.  I found it quite pleasant, not so for my wife. POWDERMAN. 

[powderman]

Several years ago we crossed the Tn river in Alabama. The bridge was built on top of a big dam. I mentioned to my wife how devastating it would be if a terrorist blew up a truck full of explosives in the middle of it. A lot of folks downstream would die. It's really sad that peoples minds will even think of the possibility of something like that happening. Then again, I never dreamed that animals would intentionally murder 3,000 Americans either. I reckon it pays to notice things and be aware of these possibilities. Sad. POWDERMAN.   

[Casull]

Powderman, I didn't even know that I64 crossed the river (I always head north on I65 when I get that far).  If the I65 bridge is the good one, I don't want to drive over the other two.       As I think about it though, the I65 bridge is not that bad (sure could use a resurfacing though), but the ramps are horrible.  I've been offroad where it was smoother.

[gypsyman]

Not just the bridge's going east and west, it wouldn't take much for the north and south expressways/interstate's and turnpike's. Think of how the major cities would get food in the wintertime, if a few of the bridge's thru the mountains were shut down.(I95/I75/I65,etc!) gypsyman

[powderman]

I 64 crossed the Ohio at New Albany In. News said it would be closed at least 3 months, not even sure it can be repaired. If it needs replaced it would take 3 years. POWDERMAN. 

[sidewinder319]

I remember crossing the Ohio at that point. This was the road to Ft. Knox back 50 years ago. The bridge was called the K&I bridge. The rail road ran thru the middle and two outside lanes for cars and trucks. You could also cross on a ferry south of Corydon, In at Mockport. The ferry crossing over to Ky was fun. We could stand on the deck and have a beer and a smoke. No we were not PC in those days.

[powderman]

SIDEWINDER. The ferry is long gone, thats where our bridge is now, going into Brandenberg. Next bridge to the South is almost 80 miles for me. I had to take it when a barge hit ours a year ago last winter. POWDERMAN. 

[srussell]

SIDEWINDER. The ferry is long gone, thats where our bridge is now, going into Brandenberg. Next bridge to the South is almost 80 miles for me. I had to take it when a barge hit ours a year ago last winter. POWDERMAN. 

next one for you after Brandenburg would be Cannelton. not very far from me I'm in perry county across the river from Breckenridge county

[sidewinder319]

Thx guys. Thx for the up dates. I had not thought of of the crossings for years. I was back east to Ft. Knox to visit an old Sgt. there in 1961. We had tried to drink all the beer in Vine Grove. I  was at Ft. Knox when JFK and the Russians squared off over Cuba. Thx for the memories men.

[powderman]

SIDEWINDER. The ferry is long gone, thats where our bridge is now, going into Brandenberg. Next bridge to the South is almost 80 miles for me. I had to take it when a barge hit ours a year ago last winter. POWDERMAN. 

next one for you after Brandenburg would be Cannelton. not very far from me I'm in perry county across the river from Breckenridge county

 
WE crossed at Hawesville that morning. POWDERMAN. 

[Old Syko]

I remember crossing the Ohio at that point. This was the road to Ft. Knox back 50 years ago. The bridge was called the K&I bridge. The rail road ran thru the middle and two outside lanes for cars and trucks. You could also cross on a ferry south of Corydon, In at Mockport. The ferry crossing over to Ky was fun. We could stand on the deck and have a beer and a smoke. No we were not PC in those days.

Believe it or not, there was talk of reopening the old K&I because of the recent shutdown.  Finally, the morons in charge decided yesterday morning that wouldn't work.      It's a feat just to walk across that thing now, much less drive across.

[Old Fart]

It shows me how vulnerable we all are to terrorist attacks and how devestating it could be to have sections of bridges blown up accross America.

Should be a reminder to us just how delicate our existance is if we base it on being able to run down the road.

[Old Syko]

It shows me how vulnerable we all are to terrorist attacks and how devestating it could be to have sections of bridges blown up accross America.

Should be a reminder to us just how delicate our existance is if we base it on being able to run down the road.

It's mind boggling how many choose not to understand this.  Because of the entitlement attitude of people today there seems to be hardly any understanding of what is at stake.  Lose a handful of bridges or damage only small parts of other infrastructure and life as we know it ceases to exist.  Most people have no clue beyond pushing a button where things come from.   

[powderman]

OLD SYKO. News just showed several vehicles driving accross the k&I bridge at noon today. It looked rather spooky. POWDERMAN. 

[powderman]

I was  wrong, the K&I bridge is NOT open, not sure what that film was I saw cars on it, musta been an old film. Story below. POWDERMAN. 
 

 

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Norfolk-Southern-keeping-employees-from-using-KI-bridge-to-cross--130378808.html

[powderman]

News just said it CAN be repaired but will take at least 3 months and maybe as long as a yr and 1/2. POWDERMAN.