US 60-62 Mississippi River Bridge Closed for up to 1 Year

[brad2971]

https://www.wsiltv.com/news/top-stories/mississippi-river-bridge-from-cairo-ill-to-mississippi-county-mo-to-close-for-one-year/article_4f1f3414-532e-11ee-af1e-b758d3cb2bf9.html

Quite a few folks in that area are about to find out that, due to various labor and supply chain issues, the Oct 1, 2024 reopening date for a nearly 100 year old bridge closed for major repairs is...optimistic.

[Lyon Wonder]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

[LilianaUwU]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

Might as well close Cairo entirely at that point.

[JREwing78]

There's still the bridge between IL and KY in play, though it's similarly ancient. However, it's the more important of the two connections with the I-57 bridge providing the connection to MO. I'm also going to guess the AADT on the IL to KY bridge outpaces the AADT of the IL to MO bridge, even when both are open.

[ilpt4u]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

The new Ohio River Cairo bridge is well into study at this point. KYTC is the leading agency, with IDOT as a partner

https://us51bridge.com/project-overview

At present, the new bridge is only slightly up-river of the existing Ohio River bridge

Regarding the Mississippi River Cairo bridge, at least it has redundancy with the I-57 bridge. I also doubt the old Mississippi River bridge has a direct replacement, as its replacement was built up-river years ago as the 57 bridge

A few more miles up-river, MoDOT and IDOT have already started the Chester Mississippi River Bridge replacement project. I doubt much energy will be focused on a potential 60-62 bridge replacement until Chester is done

[brad2971]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

The new Ohio River Cairo bridge is well into study at this point. KYTC is the leading agency, with IDOT as a partner

https://us51bridge.com/project-overview

At present, the new bridge is only slightly up-river of the existing Ohio River bridge

Regarding the Mississippi River Cairo bridge, at least it has redundancy with the I-57 bridge. I also doubt the old Mississippi River bridge has a direct replacement, as its replacement was built up-river years ago as the 57 bridge

A few more miles up-river, MoDOT and IDOT have already started the Chester Mississippi River Bridge replacement project. I doubt much energy will be focused on a potential 60-62 bridge replacement until Chester is done

While both KYTC and IDOT are still studying alternatives, both those agencies (and MoDOT as well) need to understand that the approaches to those bridges are also wholly inadequate for today's modern trucking. The alternative they have listed there is nowhere near an improvement when it comes to the sharp curve going northbound on US 51 to the bridge.

[Revive 755]

^ The curve looks softer on the 'preferred alternative' for the Ohio River Bridge.  Reading through some of the study documents it looks like the curve on the east end is to be designed for 55 mph.

I'm also going to guess the AADT on the IL to KY bridge outpaces the AADT of the IL to MO bridge, even when both are open.

Going off IDOT's information:
* The Ohio River Bridge had an ADT of 5650 in 2022.
* The US 60-US 62 Mississippi River Bridge had an ADT of 3400 in 2021.
* US 51 north of US 60-US 62 going into Cairo had an ADT of 3400 in 2021.
* The I-57 Mississippi River Bridge had an ADT of 13,500 in 2022

For comparing with some of the other Mississippi crossings:
* The MO 51 - IL 150 bridge at Chester had an ADT of 5900 in 2021.
* The MO 74 - IL 146 bridge at Cape Girardeau had an ADT of 10,000 in 2021
* The US 54 bridge had an ADT of 3100 in 2021

[Rothman]

I was just there.

I was taking pictures in the Fort Defiance lot when a car zoomed past me.  Went right up to the road closed barrier and turned around with befuddled looks on the driver's face.  How they missed all the signage is hilarious to me.

[abqtraveler]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

And another old bridge to be imploded.

[SEWIGuy]

^ The curve looks softer on the 'preferred alternative' for the Ohio River Bridge.  Reading through some of the study documents it looks like the curve on the east end is to be designed for 55 mph.

I'm also going to guess the AADT on the IL to KY bridge outpaces the AADT of the IL to MO bridge, even when both are open.

Going off IDOT's information:
* The Ohio River Bridge had an ADT of 5650 in 2022.
* The US 60-US 62 Mississippi River Bridge had an ADT of 3400 in 2021.
* US 51 north of US 60-US 62 going into Cairo had an ADT of 3400 in 2021.
* The I-57 Mississippi River Bridge had an ADT of 13,500 in 2022

For comparing with some of the other Mississippi crossings:
* The MO 51 - IL 150 bridge at Chester had an ADT of 5900 in 2021.
* The MO 74 - IL 146 bridge at Cape Girardeau had an ADT of 10,000 in 2021
* The US 54 bridge had an ADT of 3100 in 2021

I can see the importance of upgrading the US-51 bridge between KY and IL.  There also isn't another alternative until you get to I-24 in Paducah.

But it seems like a waste to replace the US-60/62 bridge when you have I-57 just five miles away.  I don't think you have crossings that close to one another south until you get to Memphis and north until you get to St. Louis.

[hbelkins]

It wasn't all that many years ago that the US 60-62 Mississippi River bridge had a long-term closure for repairs.

[edwaleni]

One must not forget that IDOT has plans on the books to build a major river shipping & logistics terminal with rail and truck service just west of Cairo.

It is in their 5 year plan and the funding is already in process.

https://www.waterwaysjournal.net/2023/09/15/contract-in-place-payment-authorized-to-move-cairo-port-project-forward-again

https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/cairo-port-project-gets-additional-funding-but-construction-timeline-still-uncertain

I don't think an actual truck traffic study has been completed, so I am not sure how that bridge would be impacted by a new logistics terminal.

The former project website is now used for a gambling website promoting baccarat. Not exactly building any confidence.

[SEWIGuy]

That doesn't seem like a very promising project.

[paulthemapguy]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

Might as well close Cairo entirely at that point.

Cairo is way ahead of you!

[Rothman]

It wouldn't surprise me the old Mississippi River bridge is permanently closed with US 60 and US 62 rerouted onto I-57.

I think the US 60/62 bridge will eventually be demolished without replacement and a new Ohio River bridge built upstream to the north near Future City that completely bypasses Cairo with US 51/60/62 connecting to I-57 with the existing Exit 1 interchange at IL-3.

Might as well close Cairo entirely at that point.

Cairo is way ahead of you!

It didn't look totally dead this past weekend.  Only half dead.

[jnewkirk77]

WPSD-TV in Paducah gives the latest update on the bridge, which closed Oct. 2.

https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/no-plans-to-demolish-u-s-60-62-bridge-idot-engineer-says/article_72c55186-776f-11ee-b984-23d96683c68a.html

Looks like IDOT is planning to keep it in place for the foreseeable future.

[Revive 755]

And due to the closure, there is now very slow farm equipment using the I-57 bridge.  Real fun when trying to exit at IL 3.

[seicer]

It's harvest season.

I camped out in the vicinity of one of the two bridges several years ago, and I was awakened by the constant sound of trucks crossing the bridge starting at 5:30 AM. The clanking of the trailers across the expansion joints was enough to keep me awake.

[jnewkirk77]

It's harvest season.

I camped out in the vicinity of one of the two bridges several years ago, and I was awakened by the constant sound of trucks crossing the bridge starting at 5:30 AM. The clanking of the trailers across the expansion joints was enough to keep me awake.

The first time I drove across the Mississippi bridge, it was about 2:30 in the morning, mine was the only car on it, and every expansion joint clanked and banged as my little Ford Contour went across ... enough so that it woke up my then-5-year-old daughter. I can only imagine what it sounded like at ground level!

[SEWIGuy]

WPSD-TV in Paducah gives the latest update on the bridge, which closed Oct. 2.

https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/no-plans-to-demolish-u-s-60-62-bridge-idot-engineer-says/article_72c55186-776f-11ee-b984-23d96683c68a.html

Looks like IDOT is planning to keep it in place for the foreseeable future.

I think that headline is a little misleading. If you read into it, there are no plans to "replace and demolish" the bridge.  I would guess that, depending on how this next year goes, they may just decide at some point in the future to close this bridge.  It might be a couple decades away, but it looks as though another bridge will not be built here.

[JREwing78]

And due to the closure, there is now very slow farm equipment using the I-57 bridge.  Real fun when trying to exit at IL 3.

WPSD-TV in Paducah gives the latest update on the bridge, which closed Oct. 2.

https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/no-plans-to-demolish-u-s-60-62-bridge-idot-engineer-says/article_72c55186-776f-11ee-b984-23d96683c68a.html

Looks like IDOT is planning to keep it in place for the foreseeable future.

If you read into it, there are no plans to "replace and demolish" the bridge.  I would guess that, depending on how this next year goes, they may just decide at some point in the future to close this bridge.  It might be a couple decades away, but it looks as though another bridge will not be built here.

This could prove problematic as a long-term plan, if there's sufficient cross-river slow-moving farm vehicle traffic. It's 11 miles from the IL-3 exit to US-62 in Charleston, MO; it's not like they're on I-57 just to cross the bridge - it's a LONG distance to be tying up the right lane and shoulder with farm equipment.

The alternatives also suck - Cape Girardeau is the next closest river crossing, which is not close at all. They could disassemble the equipment to the point it could ride on a flatbed truck, but that's also an expensive and time-consuming prospect.

Perhaps a seasonal ferry service for farm implements could be implemented if the US-60/62 bridge is closed?

On a side note, the US-60/62 bridge is really narrow. I'm amazed that was ever a viable farm implement crossing. It's a long way to back up for oncoming traffic if they can't squeeze past.

[jnewkirk77]

I believe - although I'm not 100% sure of it - that farm equipment movements get a police escort, for safety reasons.

Ferries have been set up on a temporary basis at Old Shawneetown in the past when that bridge was under construction, so that's not out of the realm of possibility.

[edwaleni]

I believe - although I'm not 100% sure of it - that farm equipment movements get a police escort, for safety reasons.

Ferries have been set up on a temporary basis at Old Shawneetown in the past when that bridge was under construction, so that's not out of the realm of possibility.

Just so you know that the bridge was built in the first place due to a ferry disaster that killed several people.

There are some eddies that form where the Ohio and Mississippi meet that made it treacherous (at the time). It was a 3 landing ferry from Browns Landing (Missouri) to Cairo, IL then to Wickliffe, KY and then back to Brown's Landing.

The ferry was on its way to Cairo when it got turned around and then capsized. After that there was a public outcry to get rid of the ferry here once and for all. So the 2 bridges were built as a result.

Illinois built the Cairo-Mississippi Bridge and Kentucky built the Cairo-Ohio River Bridge and the ferry was discontinued shortly thereafter.

[Rick Powell]

This could prove problematic as a long-term plan, if there's sufficient cross-river slow-moving farm vehicle traffic. It's 11 miles from the IL-3 exit to US-62 in Charleston, MO; it's not like they're on I-57 just to cross the bridge - it's a LONG distance to be tying up the right lane and shoulder with farm equipment.

A new I-57 exit on the west side of the river could be looked at that would cut back on the out of direction travel. Recognizing that whatever new connection is made will need to accommodate the flood plain.

[jnewkirk77]

A new I-57 exit on the west side of the river could be looked at that would cut back on the out of direction travel. Recognizing that whatever new connection is made will need to accommodate the flood plain.

Where Route J crosses 57 just SW of the weigh station and truck parking ... it may be my imagination, but it looks like it was designed and built to accommodate an interchange.