Workers ready to lift next section of Ohio River bridge

MILTON, Ky. — Workers building a new Ohio River bridge between Milton, Ky., and Madison, Ind., will move a 727-foot preassembled section into place next week.

The Courier-Journal reports the span will be floated into position and lifted using a method called “strand jacking.” The section was assembled on barges in Milton.

Workers will use special hydraulic jacks and bundled strands of steel cable to lift the span onto temporary piers. Another section was lifted earlier this summer.

The river will be closed to commercial traffic for approximately 24 hours, and recreational boaters will also be prohibited from using the area during the lift.

The $100 million project is a joint effort of both states to replace the U.S. 421 bridge. The existing bridge remains open during the lift.