FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (March 30, 2016) – If your daily drive involves the Jesse Stuart Memorial Bridge (KY 10) across the locks and dam in Greenup County, you might want to rethink your route the next couple of months.

Beginning Monday, April 4, contractors will restrict the Ohio River crossing to one-lane so old expansion joints can be safely replaced, which will mean traffic delays.

The joints – important components that allow the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes – have deteriorated over the years, causing potholes and rough driving conditions across the structure’s concrete surface.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has awarded an $857,589.49 low-bid contract to M&M Services Co. Inc. to remove existing joints, install new ones and repair the concrete pavement.

During construction, temporary traffic signals will be placed on each side of the bridge to route traffic into one lane to cross the river between US 23 in Kentucky and US 52 in Ohio.

The bridge will remain one lane and signals will operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week until work is complete, which is expected by mid-June.

Because the one-lane work zone could extend across the entire bridge, it’s likely wait times at signals will be lengthy – from 3 to 9 minutes, or longer depending on amount traffic. Motorists can seek alternate routes between Ohio and Kentucky, if possible, using bridges at Ashland, Russell or Portsmouth, Ohio, to avoid the wait.

In addition, no overweight or over-dimensional commercial traffic will be permitted across the bridge during construction.

Road work schedules are subject to change depending on weather conditions. Motorists are asked to heed all warning signs, slow down in work zones and remain aware of workers and construction equipment when traveling.

Find more information about District 9 online at http://transportation.ky.gov/district-9. Navigate traffic with KYTC, http://511.ky.gov, and Waze, http://waze.com!