Twin Bridge Work

Its time once again to get mentally prepared for slower speeds and lane changes on the twin bridges. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the major maintenance project on the bridges will resume next week. In the coming weeks the Trocadero Plaza will see business drop as much as 25-percent. Owners know, because thats what happened when bridge work started last march. "This is the first time theyve done bridge construction in over a decade, so its not like this is something that happens every year and we have to be inconvenienced." To Trocadero owner Vanallen, its part of the process. And "the process" starts with overnight lane closures next week on the southbound bridge. After that, get ready for reduced speeds and reduced lane widths like last spring. "As we get to around March 24th, thats when we will start transitioning to three ten foot lanes on the northbound bridge and that will allow the crews to work 24/7 on the southbound bridge, because they will have a lane that will be available full time for them to operate off of." Like last year, expect police to strictly enforce the 35 mile per hour speed limit. And, tow trucks will be nearby to quickly clear fender-benders. Truckers will see one change. "Well be directing the truck traffic on the northbound side to the center lane when we get to the ten foot lane arrangement because that keeps the trucks off the shoulder and keeps them in the middle of the road where the roadway is better able to handle the extra weight." For Vanallen, the "extra wait" to get across the bridges is a process he and other drivers will just have to get use to. "Yes it hurts my business for a little while, but life goes on, and well get over it." Last year, work on the northbound span of the bridge wrapped up early, but also started sooner. Keith Todd says completion on the southbound span will be determined mainly by weather.