2 weeks later, Sherman-Minton bridge still closed

The Sherman-Minton Bridge, one of only three bridges connecting Kentucky and Indiana in the Louisville, Ky., area, has now been shut down for more than two weeks.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels suddenly ordered the bridge closed Sept. 9 after a concerning crack was found in a load-bearing steel support beam.

On a normal day, more than 80,000 vehicles travel across the 50-year-old bridge, which connects Louisville and New Albany, Ind.

After weeks of investigating, Indiana officials announced Friday that the bridge will not be replaced. However, engineers added that they are still conducting tests to determine what repairs are needed.

The closing has led to traffic congestion as drivers were rerouted and political name-calling made it a partisan issue in light of President  Barack Obama’s recently announced job and infrastructure plan.

“Southern Indiana’s economy is hanging in the balance,” Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker said in a press release last week. “Where is Senator Lugar?”

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, Louisville mayor Greg Fisher and United States representatives John Yarmuth and Todd Young toured the Sherman-Minton on Sept. 17, Parker said. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar was absent.

“After 35 years in Washington, he’s showing just how out of touch he is with southern Indiana,” Parker added. Lugar’s whereabouts were far from unknown that Saturday, however, as he was in Indianapolis for the annual Dick Lugar Run and Health Fair.

Young, who represents Indiana’s ninth district — which includes both Bloomington and New Albany — has also not been safe from the Indiana Democratic Party’s criticism. Earlier in the month, Parker blasted Young for “his lackluster involvement” in the closing of the bridge.

Young has visited the Sherman-Minton at least twice now, however, to see the damage for himself and meet with engineers examining the bridge.

Despite the headache it’s caused, he has said he believes closing the bridge was the right action.

“I’m confident that INDOT made the right decision,” Young said. “But this will have a very real impact on traffic and businesses in the region. We want to be able to help any way we can at the federal level to get repairs made quickly and safely so that we can alleviate those concerns.”

— Jake New