Lake Conditions:  Fair - 50° / Lake Temperature  57° - 357.17'
Lynnhurst
Lynnhurst
Lynnhurst

Old Lake Barkley Bridge Explosion Scheduled for Wednesday

April 10, 2018 | Press Release from KYTC

The New US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge at Canton is expected to be closed to highway traffic for up to 2 hours on WEDNESDAY morning, April 11, 2018.

This closure of the New US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge at Canton is expected to start sometime between 6:30 a.m., CDT, and 9:00 a.m., Wednesday. The planned 2 hour closure is to accommodate the use of explosives to bring down two spans of the nearby OLD Lake Barkley Bridge. Traffic is expected to be stopped about 15 to 20 minutes prior to the planned detonation.

During the closure of the US 68/KY 80 Lake Barkley Bridge at Canton motorists should self-detour via Interstate 24. This detour will add about 40 miles to a trip between Cadiz and Murray.

After the blast to bring down the main spans of the old bridge, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel will need about an hour or more to assure debris from the blast has not been scattered onto the driving surface of the new bridge. Once the crew has walked the new bridge to remove any debris, KYTC will attempt to provide timely notice when highway traffic resumes.

Westbound traffic on US 68/KY 80 will be halted near the Arrowhead Way intersection on the Canton side of the lake. Eastbound traffic will be halted at the Energy Lake Road crossover on the Land Between The Lakes side of Lake Barkley.

Viewing Access Areas Open to the Public

On the Land Between The Lakes (west) side of the bridge there is room for perhaps about 2,000 people along the multi-use trail that runs along the south side of US 68/KY 80 near the Energy Lake Road crossover. Parking is limited. There is a small parking lot just north of US 68/KY 80 at this intersection. Please be aware that a peninsula just off the south side of the bridge causeway near the Energy Lake Road crossover is occupied by an abundance of snakes.

On the Canton (east) side of Lake Barkley there will be a public observation point near the Lakeview Convenience Store near the Arrowhead Way intersection. Parking opportunities are limited. Please avoid blocking streets or driveway entrances.

Please take note that residents of Arrowhead Trail which parallels the clear zone along the Canton side of the lake just south of the bridge have asked that their street be closed so they can maintain access during the event. Please be mindful that the Canton side of the lake is privately owned and you will need permission of property owners before setting up an observation point for the Wednesday morning blast.

Here are some additional points to remember:

• Blast planned between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., CDT
• 1500 ft. Clear Zone Enforced around the Blast Site (See Attached Map)
• Highway Traffic on New Bridge blocked up to 2 hours, starting about 15 min. prior to the blast
• Pleasure Boat Traffic Blocked for 2 hours or more, starting about 20 min. prior to the blast
• Commercial Boat Traffic Blocked for up to 24 hours, starting about an hour prior to the blast
• Blast is Weather Dependent
• East viewing area for media & public at the Canton end of the bridge Near Lakeview One Stop
• West viewing area for media & public at the LBL end of the Bridge along Multi-Use Trail

Traffic advisories for this event and other KYTC activities are available at www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1.

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