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Roebling Bridge Should Be Re-opened Before August

Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU
Pieces of sandstone started falling from the north tower in April.

The selection of a contractor and a plan to make the Roebling Suspension Bridge safe for traffic again means the bridge could be open by the end of July.  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says Structural Systems Repair Group will install netting to the north tower to catch any sandstone pieces that might fall.

That's what led to the partial closure in mid-April. The west-side pedestrian walkway has stayed open.

The contract with SSRG is $77, 998.

KTC says the plan had to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office because the bridge is a historic structure.

"We appreciate the public's patience while we explored options that would not compromise the integrity of this historic bridge," Chief District Engineer Bob Yeager says. "We now have a plan and timeline in place and will work diligently to get the bridge back open to traffic."

A restoration project that includes permanent repairs to the sandstone towers and pedestrian walkways is in the design phase with construction estimated to start in the spring of 2020.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.