You know the old saying, "You don't miss the water until the well runs dry?" Well, that's how I feel about the Panther Creek Bridge out on Highway 81.

In a way.

To paraphrase, "You don't realize how important one little bridge is until you can't cross it."

With that bridge temporarily out of commission, long detours have been in order. And Highway 81, as we all realize, is kind of a major artery.

The bridge sustained damage last month when a commercial truck pulling a trailer loaded with scrap steel crossed it.

Some of the steel hanging off the trailer damaged the truss, leading to a huge detour between Calhoun and Owensboro.

Now, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has determined that the bridge can be repaired and has initiated an expedited bid and repair process.

Once the plan is developed, the KYTC says that it should take "several weeks to fabricate the necessary steel to repair the structure."

Construction on site would then take about six to ten weeks.

KYTC will give us timely updates when construction and repair work begin on the 85-year-old bridge.

You can always get timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties in the KYTC's Highway District 2 on the agency's Facebook page.

 

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