Starting on Monday, Westbound traffic traveling from Kentucky to Indiana will face a nine-day closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge. The closure will be in effect in New Albany, Indiana.
Crews have had to close the Westbound lane of the Sherman Minton Bridge Renewal Project for the second time in just two weeks in order to carry out necessary maintenance work.
As part of a “low impact maintenance of traffic” strategy, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has implemented staggered closures. The aim is to make construction less disruptive for drivers.
Those who are just off Interstate 64 in New Albany have experienced the opposite effect.
Spencer Clark, who manages Baer’s City Wine, expressed his thoughts on the difficulty of reaching their location, saying “It’s a hassle, which is why people don’t want to come here.” He also added that their business is being impacted significantly as most of their customers come from Louisville. The inconvenience of traveling to their location means that their Louisville-based customers are affected the most.
According to Clark, a significant number of their customers, approximately 75%, are from Louisville. However, in the event of a bridge closure, they experience a substantial decrease in the number of customers.
Since 2020, Isabella Niece has been serving at Floyd County Brewing Company, coinciding with the start of the bridge project.
Since then, she has observed the gradual decrease in customer turnout due to the impact of construction.
Located on a vast campus, the brewery boasts of a bar, restaurant, and music venue. The peak days of the week, although predominantly Saturdays and Sundays, may vary.
According to Niece, individuals who are not familiar with the area often get confused and lost due to the bridge closure and uncertainty about where to go to return to Louisville. As a result, many find it more convenient to remain in Louisville rather than venturing into New Albany.
Crossing the river can be a headache, not just for commuters, but for anyone who needs to get to the other side.
According to Niece, the traffic situation becomes a nightmare when the bridge is closed. If that happens, it will cause a traffic jam on the interstate and Brown Station Way. The normal travel time of 15 minutes would increase to 30 to 45 minutes when the bridge is shut down.
At this stage, the project should be nearing completion, and crews are currently putting the finishing touches on traffic configurations.
Those who are feeling the financial pressure of the closure are uncertain about when the final day of closure will be.
Niece expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that she wishes the bridge would be completed soon. However, she also understands the importance of safety and wants the necessary measures to be taken to ensure it. Despite this, she hopes that the authorities involved can provide a timeline for completion, as this would be beneficial for local business owners.
Starting from August 5 at 5 a.m., the westbound closures will be in effect. These lanes are expected to be open again by 5 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14.
It is recommended that motorists opt for an alternate route such as I-65 or I-265.
The bridge will keep all the eastbound lanes open.
