Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and other state and local officials celebrated the opening of the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge in Smithland with a ribbon cutting on Monday.
The 1,912-foot-long blue truss bridge, named after the late Jim R. Smith, founder of the company that constructed it, will open this week, weather permitting, the governor’s office said.
“Kentuckians are going to love their new bridge, which will make their commutes safer,” Beshear said. “This standout bridge assembled at the Paducah Riverport and transported to Smithland showcases the ingenuity used to usher in a much-needed structure that will be treasured for generations to come.”
The $63.6 million bridge was built to replace a neighboring bridge that had opened to traffic in 1931. Known as the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial bridge, the original will be demolished in August and crews will complete roadway resurfacing and finishing work for the Jim Smith bridge in December 2023.
“Despite numerous weather events during construction, work crews kept this project on schedule and on budget so it could open to the community as soon as possible,” said Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray. “Drivers will enjoy wider driving lanes, new emergency shoulders and ample space for farm equipment to comfortably cross the river without halting traffic.”
The new bridge is 40-feet wide with two 12-foot driving lanes and 8-foot shoulders. The bridge’s 700-foot steel truss was assembled and painted at the Paducah Riverport by American Bridge Co., then floated by barge 14 miles upstream on the Ohio River to the construction site. The bridge spans the river without piers in the water, eliminating river traffic obstructions. The bridge is a significant cross-country link for U.S. Highway 60 through Western Kentucky, connecting Livingston County which is split in two by the Cumberland River.