The Sherman Minton Bridge connecting Kentucky and Indiana remains closed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One of the main bridges connecting Indiana and Kentucky, the Sherman Minton Bridge was shutdown late Wednesday, July 27. 

This closure impacted many people commuting across the bridge for work, including Trent White, who sells cars. White commutes from Pekin, Indiana, near Charlestown to Louisville for work. 

“It’s long waits in traffic and the same thing is going to reoccur if this situation doesn’t get amended quickly. You know, sometimes you’re looking at one hour, two hours,” White says. 

Sherman Minton Renewal said in a statement the upper and lower decks were closed overnight to repair a component that immediately needed attention. 

Engineers suggest taking I-265 and I-65 as alternate routes. 

“I advise drivers to leave a lot earlier than they need to. You know I’m leaving an hour, an hour and a half to get to work on time.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and engineers with the Indiana Department of Transportation are working diligently to re-open the bridge and hope to have it open in the coming days. But an exact time and day hasn’t been announced.

“I’ll have to reroute around and go across the Lincoln Bridge to get back home. I live out in Corydon, Indiana, so it’s a little jog to get on home,” Denny Onstott, a car salesman who commutes from Indiana to Kentucky for work, says. 

Onstott says if the project isn’t finished by the time he gets off work, he is expecting a longer commute home. 

“Time wise, with traffic, it will take a little longer too, probably add an additional 30 minutes to my driving.”

The bridge transports six lanes of traffic over the Ohio River. Sherman Minton Renewal says the rehabilitation project will add 30 years of life to the bridge.