COVINGTON, Ky. — One of two direct connections between Covington and Newport has reopened after transportation officials closed it earlier this week.
KYTC District 6 closed the bridge after an inspection found evidence of corrosion on the 84-year-old Fourth Street/Veterans Memorial Bridge stretching across the Licking River. The bridge connects Covington's Fourth Street to a roundabout accessing Kentucky Route 9, Fifth Street and the Taylor-Southgate Bridge in Newport.
KYTC spokeswoman Nancy Wood said the bridge reopened Friday with two out of three traffic lanes and a reduced weight limit of three tons.
"We are going with a safety-first approach for the 4th Street Bridge," said KYTC District 6 Chief Engineer, Bob Yeager in a news release Wednesday. "KYTC officials are looking at a number of options. It might be possible to open the bridge back up, with restrictions, until a repair is made."
Bridge investigators found evidence that a primary load-carrying member showed signs of deterioration during a routine inspection.
The bridge also remains open to people walking and riding bicycles.
The Licking Valley Girl Scout Bridge connecting 12th Street in Covington to 11th Street in Newport remains open.
