Sherman Minton Bridge

Sherman Minton Bridge
The bridge as seen from the flood wall in New Albany
Coordinates	38°16′42.44″N 85°49′19.34″W
Carries	6 lanes (3 upper, 3 lower) of Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 150
Crosses	Ohio River
Locale	Louisville, Kentucky and New Albany, Indiana
Maintained by	INDOT
Characteristics
Design	Double-decked twin arch bridge
Total length	2,052.9 ft (625.7 m)
Width	42 ft (13 m)
Longest span	800 ft (240 m)
Clearance above	16.3 ft (5.0 m)
History
Opened	1962
Location

The Sherman Minton Bridge is an through arch bridge spanning the Ohio River, carrying I-64 and US 150 over the river between Kentucky and Indiana. The bridge connects the west side of Louisville, Kentucky to downtown New Albany, Indiana.

The bridge is an unusual double-deck configuration—westbound traffic from Kentucky to Indiana travels on the upper deck of the bridge, while eastbound traffic from Indiana into Kentucky travels on the lower deck of the bridge.

The bridge was built in 1962 and is named for Supreme Court justice (1949-1956) and long-time New Albany resident Sherman Minton. It was designed by Hazelet & Erdal, of Louisville, now URS Corp. and built at a cost of $14.8 million.

The American Institute of Steel Construction in 1961 called it the most beautiful long-span bridge of the year, while it was being constructed.

View of the bridge from the Main Street in New Albany

Closure in 2011

On September 9, 2011, the bridge was closed down by Indiana governor Mitch Daniels after construction crews found cracks in the main load bearing structural element.

See also

• List of crossings of the Ohio River

External links

• Sherman Minton Bridge at Structurae
• Sherman Minton Bridge at Bridge Hunter
• Sherman Minton Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
• Sherman Minton Bridge at Kentucky Roads