80-year-old Ohio River bridge in poor shape

MADISON, Ind. – Inspectors have found that the condition of an 80-year-old bridge spanning the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky is as bad or worse than it was before being refurbished in 1997.

The inspection of the Madison-Milton bridge found its beams and trusses in poor condition. The report on the January inspection for Kentucky’s transportation agency says the bridge deck had cracks all the way across and through the concrete curbs at five-foot and 10-foot intervals.

John Carr Wilbur Smith Associates, based in Lexington, Ky., says making repairs could force closing the bridge linking Madison, Ind. and Milton, Ky. for at least 18 months. An in-depth inspection of the bridge was done in August. Officials said that report won’t be finished for another month or two.