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WLKY Investigates: Who's enforcing weight limits on Clark Memorial Bridge during inspection?

WLKY Investigates: Who's enforcing weight limits on Clark Memorial Bridge during inspection?

FLEEING FROM POLICE AND RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. INSPECTIONS START THIS WEEK ON THE CLARK MEMORIAL BRIDGE. IT COMES A YEAR AFTER A CHECK FOUND DETERIORATION AND WEIGHT LIMITS WERE PUT IN PLACE. BUT WHO IS ACTUALLY MONITORING THE TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE? MADISON ELLIOTT INVESTIGATES THE ISSUE. SHE’S LIVE ALONG SECOND STREET, WHERE INSPECTORS ARE FOCUSING THEIR WORK. MADISON. INSPECTORS WILL BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE, BOTH IN JEFFERSONVILLE AND HERE IN LOUISVILLE. WE SAW THEM WORKING UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE TODAY. BUT A BIG QUESTION FOR DRIVERS WHO’S ENFORCING THESE WEIGHT LIMITS. SO WE ASKED. ON MONDAY, INSPECTIONS GOT UNDERWAY ON THE CLARK MEMORIAL BRIDGE. WE COULD SEE CREWS CHECKING THE BEAMS UNDERNEATH THE 95 YEAR OLD STRUCTURE. WHILE THIS IS A ROUTINE INSPECTION, A CHECK LAST YEAR REVEALED AGE RELATED DETERIORATION OF THE STEEL BEAMS AND IN THE STEEL SUPPORTING THE NORTHBOUND SIDEWALK. PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY FEEL A LITTLE RELIEF KNOWING THE ISSUE IS BEING MONITORED. I’M GLAD IT IS ON THE RADAR AND THAT DEFINITELY MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. AFTER LAST YEAR’S INSPECTION, KYTC REDUCED WEIGHT LIMITS ON THE BRIDGE, BUT A W-L-K-Y INVESTIGATION REVEALED KYTC DOESN’T HAVE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES AND INSTEAD RELIES ON LOCAL AGENCIES. SO WE REACHED OUT TO LMPD. THEY TELL US RIGHT NOW THEY DON’T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO WEIGH VEHICLES, BUT ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION FOR FUNDING TO GET THE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THE BRIDGE TELL US SOME EYES CONTINUE TO POST PROBLEMS ON THE BRIDGE. I PREFER NOT TO DRIVE NEXT TO A TRUCK. I WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE SPACE BETWEEN ME AND ANOTHER VEHICLE, SO I’M NOT RIDING SIDE BY SIDE. I MEAN, I DON’T REALLY THINK THIS BRIDGE WAS NECESSARILY DESIGNED WITH SEMIS IN MIND. I THINK THE ONES THAT THEY DESIGNED OVER THERE ARE MORE DESIGNED WITH THEM IN MIND. BUT EVER SINCE THEY PUT THE TOLLS, THE TRUCKS WOULD RATHER TAKE THIS ONE. HECK, I’D RATHER TAKE THIS ONE BECAUSE OF THE TOLLS. KYTC TOLD US LAST MONTH IF WEIGHTS CONTINUE TO EXCEED THE POSTED LIMITS, IT COULD ACCELERATE DETERIORATION FOR PEOPLE WHO CROSS THE BRIDGE. THEY HOPE THE ISSUES GET FIXED SOON. I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ENFORCED. WHATEVER THE ANSWER IS TO THAT, DEFINITELY. SPEED. DEFINITELY. I DON’T KNOW, OVERSIZE VEHICLES? NOT A GOOD IDEA. NOW BECAUSE KENTUCKY OWNS THIS BRIDGE. ISP AND JEFFERSONVILLE POLICE TELL US THEY DON’T HAVE JURISDICTION TO ENFORCE THOSE WEIGHT LIMITS AS WELL. KYTC SAYS THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON REPAIR PLANS FOR THE BRIDGE AND THE SIDEWALK. AND NEXT WEEK, YOU’LL SEE INSPECTORS CHECKING OUT THOSE UPPER BEAMS ON TOP OF THE

Updated: 9:39 PM EDT Jun 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

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WLKY Investigates: Who's enforcing weight limits on Clark Memorial Bridge during inspection?

Updated: 9:39 PM EDT Jun 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Routine inspections are underway this week on the Clark Memorial Bridge. This week, road closures will be in place underneath the bridge as crews assess the bridge's condition. Next week, crews will be climbing the bridge's steel truss to inspect the upper steel beams. Inspections last year revealed age-related deterioration of the steel beams and in the steel supporting the northbound sidewalk. After last year's inspection, KYTC reduced weight limits on the bridge. A WLKY Investigation revealed KYTC doesn't have enforcement capability. Instead, KYTC tells us they rely on KSP and local agencies. KSP told us LMPD has not requested their help, so we reached out to LMPD. LMPD tells us their biggest obstacle is the equipment needed to weigh vehicles.They are engaged in working on a solution for funding to acquire the required equipment and training through application for various grants and other sources, according to an LMPD spokesperson. They say once the equipment is procured and training is completed, they will be able to tackle the problem of when, how, and where to conduct the procedure of enforcement.The Indiana Department of Transportation tells us that because the Clark Memorial Bridge is owned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, KYTC is responsible for maintenance, construction and planning activities for the bridge, as it is their asset.We also reached out to ISP and Jeffersonville Police about enforcement. Both tell us neither agency plays a role. JPD says that's because Kentucky has jurisdiction over it. KYTC says inspections this week won't impact traffic on the bridge. This week, affected areas included North Second Street near the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville and West Market Street/West Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 13, to avoid disrupting rush hour traffic. Flaggers will direct motorists through the work zones.The second inspection phase will occur Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. Inspectors will climb the bridge’s steel truss to inspect the upper steel beams. This work will occur during daytime hours and does not require lane closures on the bridge. Crews will stage equipment on the southbound sidewalk, which may temporarily restrict pedestrian access. The northbound sidewalk remains closed to pedestrians.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Routine inspections are underway this week on the Clark Memorial Bridge.

This week, road closures will be in place underneath the bridge as crews assess the bridge's condition.

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Next week, crews will be climbing the bridge's steel truss to inspect the upper steel beams.

Inspections last year revealed age-related deterioration of the steel beams and in the steel supporting the northbound sidewalk.

After last year's inspection, KYTC reduced weight limits on the bridge.

A WLKY Investigation revealed KYTC doesn't have enforcement capability.

Instead, KYTC tells us they rely on KSP and local agencies.

KSP told us LMPD has not requested their help, so we reached out to LMPD.

LMPD tells us their biggest obstacle is the equipment needed to weigh vehicles.

They are engaged in working on a solution for funding to acquire the required equipment and training through application for various grants and other sources, according to an LMPD spokesperson.

They say once the equipment is procured and training is completed, they will be able to tackle the problem of when, how, and where to conduct the procedure of enforcement.

The Indiana Department of Transportation tells us that because the Clark Memorial Bridge is owned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, KYTC is responsible for maintenance, construction and planning activities for the bridge, as it is their asset.

We also reached out to ISP and Jeffersonville Police about enforcement.

Both tell us neither agency plays a role.

JPD says that's because Kentucky has jurisdiction over it.

KYTC says inspections this week won't impact traffic on the bridge.

This week, affected areas included North Second Street near the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville and West Market Street/West Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

The lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 13, to avoid disrupting rush hour traffic.

Flaggers will direct motorists through the work zones.

The second inspection phase will occur Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20.

Inspectors will climb the bridge’s steel truss to inspect the upper steel beams. This work will occur during daytime hours and does not require lane closures on the bridge.

Crews will stage equipment on the southbound sidewalk, which may temporarily restrict pedestrian access.

The northbound sidewalk remains closed to pedestrians.

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