PIKEVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2024) – The Blackey Bridge has been safely reopened to traffic following steel repairs to restore the vital link between KY 7 and KY 588 in Letcher County.
State highway engineers and contractors have worked since June to plan, design, and implement repairs that included ordering specialized steel components and other materials.
Once materials arrived on site last week, contract crews began repairs immediately. Preliminary work, which started in early July, allowed crews to speed up the process.
Today, bridge engineers inspected repairs and the bridge has been deemed safe for travel. Crews removed barricades this morning and the bridge is now open.
“Public safety has been our top priority as we worked to reopen the Blackey Bridge,” said KYTC Chief District Engineer Mary Westfall-Holbrook. “We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience.”
The bridge was closed in early June after a routine inspection found damage identified within critical steel connections underneath the structure that required its closure to safeguard the traveling public.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet took immediate steps to barricade the bridge and to expedite hiring a consultant to plan repair work.
In July, with plans in place, repair materials were ordered. Crews began site preparations, such as tree cutting and sandblasting, and staged equipment ahead of the last week’s work to speed up the timeline to safely reopen the bridge.
Now that the bridge has been reopened, all detours have ceased. The Blackey Bridge, a 1930 steel truss bridge over the North Fork of the Kentucky River, serves approximately 180 vehicles per day.
Picture courtesy of Letcher County Culture Hub