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Weather Alert

Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /1 PM EDT/ SATURDAY
TO 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/ TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values 100 to 109 expected.

* WHERE...All of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western
Kentucky, and southeast Missouri.

* WHEN...From noon CDT /1 PM EDT/ Saturday to 7 PM CDT /8 PM EDT/
Tuesday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The first prolonged stretch of heat and
humidity of the season will amplify health impacts. Health impacts
will build with each successive day in the heat and humidity.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

&&

U.S. 51 “Cairo Bridge� to close for one month

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cairo us 51 bridge

(WSIL) -- Extensive maintenance work will shut down a bridge connecting southern Illinois and western Kentucky starting in early August.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, work is needed on a two mile section of the "Kentucky approach levee and and an ongoing deck maintenance project."

Engineers considered six options for the work. Officials say a complete closure of the bridge will allow the work to be done more quickly and efficiently.

“We looked at several scenarios, including overnight and weekend closures.  Those options created numerous side issues for area businesses, truckers, and our daily commuters,� KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat said. 

“By closing the bridge for 30 days, we speed up the construction process so we can get the bridge back to near-normal traffic flow sooner rather than later. Some of the options included overnight and weekend closures.  Those options created numerous side issues for cross-country travelers, area businesses, truckers, and our daily commuters.  The additional construction time would have extended the impact to traffic by 12 weeks.�

The bridge carries U.S. 51, U.S. 60, and U.S. 62 traffic across the Ohio River between Wickliffe, Kentucky, and Cairo, Illinois, at U.S. 51 Kentucky mile point 7.372.

According to a recent traffic count:

  • 7,000 vehicles use the bridge on average per day
  • 35 percent are commercial trucks
  • In 2019 the average number of daily vehicles was 4,800

Until the complete closure the bridge continues to be restricted to one-lane traffic with a maximum 8½-foot load width. Traffic delays are likely during peak travel periods. Both caution and patience are required.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to provide timely notice when a specific date is set to start the 30-day closure.