Cumberland River Reopens At Smithland Following Bridge Implosion

The Cumberland River reopened at Mile 2.7 about 11:45 a.m. December 4, following delays related to imploding the old bridge crossing the river.

Contractors imploded the old U.S. 60 Cumberland River bridge at Smithland, Ky., also known as the Smithland Bridge and the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial Bridge, on November 30. Following the implosion of the 92-year-old bridge, there was a mechanical issue with barge spuds that affected the ability for the contractor to remove sections of the steel truss from the river, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The river was reopened following a sonar scan conducted by the Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard that determined the river was safe to reopen to boat traffic. Originally, the river closure at the site had been estimated to be 36 hours.

One small section of the steel truss remained on the riverbank to be taken apart by land-based demolition equipment.

Two more river closures are planned to complete the demolition. Based on the timeline provided by the demolition contractor, one is estimated to take place around December 15 for explosive demolition of the piers. The other should take place about January 2 for explosive demolition of the abutments, said Keith Todd, spokesman for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s District 1 office in Paducah, Ky.

A new bridge, the Jim R. Smith Memorial Bridge, opened to vehicle traffic May 15. Following simulations with towboat pilots at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, it was constructed so that all piers are out of the river at normal river levels to improve safety and navigation at the site.