By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
An historic bridge in the downtown Frankfort area has been ordered closed until further notice by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), after an inspection turned up structural issues.
”The Singing Bridge,” as it is known locally, carries U.S. 60 traffic across the Kentucky River between Bridge Street and St. Clair Street.
KYTC ordered immediate closure of the Singing Bridge due to structural safety concerns. As a precaution to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians, the bridge was ordered closed until further notice.
The recent routine inspection of the 130-year-old bridge found significant structural deterioration that affects the bridge’s weight-carrying capacity, prompting state engineers to close the bridge immediately to vehicles and pedestrians. Before being closed, the bridge had a weight limit of 4 tons following a 2022 inspection.
Further assessments and evaluations are needed to determine the next steps. There is no estimated timeframe for the bridge’s reopening.
Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkinson issued a statement, in which he said:
“The City of Frankfort applied for a U.S. Department of Transportation Bridge Investment Program grant earlier this year to address the bridge’s deficiencies and to increase its service life. We are working closely with our Federal and State partners to secure this funding, which will ensure that this vital downtown connection remains in service for decades to come. The total estimated cost of planned improvements is $9,850,000. It is also important to note that federal and state funds, if approved, would cover this amount.”
The bridge serves approximately 3,400 vehicles per day.
The Singing Bridge is one of the oldest structures in Kentucky, and the last one of its kind built by the King Bridge Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, that is still open to vehicular traffic. The original deck of the structure was made of timber, until its replacement with an open steel grid deck in the 1930s. The humming sound vehicle tires make as they pass over the bridge’s steel grid is what led to its nickname. Sidewalks for pedestrian traffic were added later.
Drivers should use the U.S. 60 (Capital Avenue) bridge as an alternate route.