Eggner's Ferry Bridge
| Eggner's Ferry Bridge | |
|---|---|
Original Eggners Ferry Bridge in February 2012, with the MV Delta Mariner and destroyed span
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| Coordinates | 36°46′21″N 88°07′16″W / 36.772408°N 88.120995°WCoordinates: 36°46′21″N 88°07′16″W / 36.772408°N 88.120995°W |
| Crosses | Kentucky Lake |
| Locale |
  US 68 / KY 80 in Trigg and Marshall counties, Kentucky, United States |
| Maintained by | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Tied-arch bridge |
| Total length | 3,495 feet (1,065 m) |
| Longest span | 368 feet (112 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | March 25, 1932 (Original bridge) April 7, 2016 (Current bridge) |
| Closed | April 7, 2016 (Original bridge); Original structure demolished July 25, 2016 |
Eggner Ferry Bridge, also known as Eggner's Ferry Bridge, is a four-lane bridge in Trigg and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The current through-arch bridge opened to traffic on April 7, 2016, replacing a two-lane truss bridge constructed in 1932. The bridge carries US 68 and Kentucky Route 80 across Kentucky Lake. The main span of the original 1932 bridge collapsed on January 26, 2012 after it was hit by a ship. There were no injuries. The bridge was repaired and reopened to traffic on May 25 of that year. On the morning of July 25, 2016, the middle four spans of the old Eggner's Ferry Bridge were brought down using controlled explosives.
The bridge was built to cross the Tennessee River before Kentucky Lake was planned. The bridge was opened to traffic on March 25, 1932.
On July 10, 1943, officials shut the bridge down for five months to build new pilings and raise the structure to make room for Kentucky Lake. A ferry was established to cross the river while the bridge was closed. Kentucky Governor Simeon S. Willis presided over the re-opening of the bridge in February 1944.
The bridge, plus a sister bridge that crosses nearby Lake Barkley, was slated to be replaced by a tied-arch bridge with four traffic lanes plus a sidewalk and bike path. Construction of the new bridges was initially scheduled to begin in 2011 as part of an upgrade to the existing 68/80 corridor. The project was expected to be completed in late 2017; however, due to damage by a ship strike in January 2012, the timetable was moved forward.
The new bridge opened for traffic on 2 lanes in summer of 2016. The old bridge was closed permanently in May 2016; on July 25, 2016 construction crews used explosives to demolish the original 1932 structure.
A mainspan of the bridge collapsed after being struck by the cargo vessel MV Delta Mariner on January 26, 2012. At least four vehicles were reported to be on the bridge near the time of the collapse. One pickup truck stopped about 5 feet (1.5 m) from the edge of the missing section; the driver reported that two cars had stopped directly behind him, and he saw another car on the opposite side of the missing section. No injuries were reported.
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Wikipedia