[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66775-66777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27785]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2011-0104]


Emergency Temporary Closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge 
Over the Ohio River Between Indiana and Kentucky

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Announcement for the Indiana Department of Transportation to 
continue temporary closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge over the 
Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky for an indefinite period of 
time due to safety considerations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 658.11 of title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations, the Indiana Division of the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA) announces the continued closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton 
Bridge over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky which the 
Indiana Governor closed on September 9, 2011, for safety 
considerations. After consultation with the Indiana Department of 
Transportation (INDOT), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and 
the FHWA, it was recommended that the bridge be closed after the 
discovery of a crack in a critical load-carrying element of the bridge. 
The closure is for an indefinite period of time.
    The INDOT is detouring eastbound I-64 traffic onto I-265 eastbound 
to I-65 southbound to cross the Ohio River and rejoin I-64 eastbound in 
Kentucky. The KYTC is detouring westbound I-64 traffic, bound for 
destinations beyond Louisville, onto northbound I-264 (or I-265) to 
southbound I-71 to northbound I-65 to cross the Ohio River and follow 
the Indiana detour.
    Under title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 658.11 
(Additions, deletions, exceptions, and restrictions), the FHWA can 
grant the closing of the Interstate system or other National Network 
route based upon specified

[[Page 66776]]

justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is also 
authorized to delete any route from the National Network on an 
emergency basis based on safety considerations pursuant to section 
658.11(e).
    The FHWA has decided to approve the request by the Indiana Division 
of the FHWA as an emergency deletion in accordance with section 
658.11(e) due to the safety considerations discussed in this notice. 
The FHWA is requesting comments from the general public on the 
alternate routes selected by Indiana due to the closure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments to (202) 493-
2251. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments). All comments should include the 
docket number that appears in the heading of this document. All 
comments received will be available for examination and copying at the 
above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may 
print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments 
electronically. All comments received into any docket may be searched 
in electronic format by the name of the individual submitting the 
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). Persons making comments may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78), or 
you may view the statement at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John C. Nicholas, Truck Size and 
Weight Team, Office of Operations, (202) 366-2317, Mr. Bill Winne, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0791, Federal Highway 
Administration; 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, and 
Mr. Robert Tally, FHWA Division Administrator--Indiana Division, (317) 
226-7476. Office hours for the FHWA are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., E.T., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is 
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission 
and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section 
of the Web site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: 
http://www.gpoaccess.gov.

Background

    The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations 
applicable to the National Network of highways that can safely and 
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of 
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, as amended, 
designated in accordance with 23 CFR part 658 and listed in Appendix A. 
In accordance with section 658.11, the FHWA may approve deletions or 
restrictions of the Interstate system or other National Network route 
based upon specified justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). 
Additionally, the FHWA has the authority to initiate the deletion of 
any route from the National Network, on an emergency basis, for safety 
considerations.
    The I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge was undergoing a retrofit 
construction project when a crack was discovered in a critical load-
carrying element of the bridge. After consultation with Indiana and 
Kentucky transportation officials and the FHWA, the Governor of Indiana 
closed the bridge immediately.
    The closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge has affected traffic 
throughout the Louisville and Southern Indiana region. The closed 
bridge carried an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) count of 80,000 vehicles. 
The I-65 Kennedy Bridge has an ADT of 130,000 vehicles. The additional 
traffic on I-65 due to the Sherman-Minton Bridge closure has increased 
delays in crossing over the Ohio River. The 2010 FHWA Freight 
Performance Measures Initiatives report ranked the I-65 at I-64/I-71 
interchange as the nineteenth worst out of 250 national freight 
congestion locations.
    The Indiana and Kentucky State transportation officials have 
implemented official detours via the Interstate network. Traffic on 
eastbound I-64 in Indiana is detoured via I-265 eastbound and I-65 
southbound. The traffic on I-65 southbound continues south to cross the 
Ohio River on the I-65 Kennedy Bridge to access downtown Louisville or 
rejoin I-64. Motorists also have the option to use the US 31 Clark 
Memorial Bridge, locally known as the Second Street Bridge, to cross 
the Ohio River into downtown Louisville. Traffic on westbound I-64 in 
Kentucky is detoured, via I-264 (or I-265) northbound to I-71 westbound 
to I-65 northbound. The traffic on I-65 northbound crosses the Ohio 
River on the Kennedy Bridge and continues north to I-265 westbound to 
rejoin I-64.
    To reduce Interstate ramp merging delays, some ramps in the area 
have been closed. The KYTC closed the ramp from I-64 westbound to I-65 
northbound. The INDOT closed the ramp from I-265 westbound to I-65 
southbound. Additionally, INDOT has increased the number of lanes on 
key ramps to lessen bottlenecks on the ramp systems. The I-64 eastbound 
to I-265 eastbound ramp, the I-265 westbound to I-64 westbound ramp, 
and the I-265 eastbound to I-65 southbound ramp were widened from one 
to two lanes. To improve the peak period traffic flow into downtown 
Louisville during the morning, one lane of the four lane US-31 Clark 
Memorial Bridge is being used as a reversible lane. This measure allows 
for three lane openings into Louisville during the peak period in the 
morning.
    The INDOT and the KYTC have coordinated plans with local 
governments on both sides of the Ohio River. The INDOT and the KYTC met 
with local transportation officials and police agencies immediately 
after the closure to prepare for the anticipated overflow of traffic 
from the official detour route on the Interstates to the local network. 
Such coordination is continuing as changes are being made to improve 
travel in the area. Police agencies in the region are also assisting.
    The INDOT is warning motorists of the closure and delays via 
electronic message boards in Indianapolis, Evansville, and throughout 
southern Indiana. The KYTC is warning motorists of the closure and 
delays in Lexington and throughout southern Kentucky. The Illinois 
Department of Transportation is using such boards to notify drivers of 
the closure near the junction of I-57 and I-64. Additionally, the INDOT 
has contacted regional Traffic Management Centers in Cincinnati and St. 
Louis regarding the I-64 closure. All Louisville area electronic 
message boards are being used to notify drivers of the closure, 
detours, and delay notices.
    To assist in facilitating interstate commerce, the INDOT and the 
KYTC

[[Page 66777]]

are coordinating with local trucking associations to minimize freight 
traffic disruptions. The Indiana Department of the Revenue and the 
INDOT have suspended all oversize permits routed on I-64 and are 
redirecting permitted loads to cross the Ohio River at the following 
locations: Evansville US 41 Bridge, Rockport US 231 Bridge, and 
Lawrenceburg I-275 Bridge.
    The KYTC is currently directing oversize and overweight permitted 
loads to avoid all of the Louisville bridges and seek alternate routes. 
Interested parties may apply for such permits to cross the Ohio River 
at the following locations: Henderson US 41 Bridge, Paducah I-24 
Bridge, Owensboro US 231 Bridge, and Northern KY I-275 Bridge.
    Commercial motor vehicles of the dimensions and configurations 
described in 23 CFR 658.13 and 658.15 which serve the affected area may 
use the alternate routes listed above. Vehicles servicing the 
businesses bordering the impacted area will still be able to do so by 
also using the alternate routes noted above and local signage to 
circulate around the restricted area.
    The United States Coast Guard has not placed any restrictions on 
the Ohio River traffic around the area of the Sherman-Minton Bridge at 
this time.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 127, 315 and 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and 
31114; 23 CFR part 658.

    Issued on: October 19, 2011.
 Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-27785 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
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