[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
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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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