Lake Barkley Bridge

Lake Barkley Bridge is a four-lane basket handle tied-arch bridge in western Kentucky carrying US 68, Kentucky Route 80, and a multi-use path across Lake Barkley, permitting access from the east to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It is illuminated with LED lights.

Lake Barkley Bridge
Coordinates36.8008°N 87.9785°W / 36.8008; -87.9785
Carriesmotor vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles
CrossesLake Barkley
Locale US 68 / KY 80 in Trigg County, Kentucky, United States
Maintained byKentucky Department of Transportation
Followed byBarkley Dam
Characteristics
Designbasket handle tied-arch
MaterialSteel[1]
Total length3,805 feet (1,160 m)
Width75 feet (23 m)
Longest span550 feet (170 m)
No. of lanes4 vehicular lanes, 1 multi-use path
History
DesignerMichael Baker International[2]
Constructed byPCL Civil Construction of Denver[3]
Construction startFebruary 2015 (2015-02)
Construction cost$128 million[4][5]
Opened1932 (1932) (original Lawrence bridge)
February 12, 2018 (2018-02-12) (current bridge)
InauguratedSeptember 25, 2019 (2019-09-25)
ReplacesHenry R. Lawrence Memorial Bridge
Location

Current bridge

The current bridge replaced the Henry R. Lawrence Memorial Bridge, originally built in 1932. It was opened to some traffic in 2018 to allow the old bridge to be demolished.[5][6] The multi-use trail opened on September 13, 2019 and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on September 25, 2019.[6][7]

The replacement was part of a project that also replaced its sister bridge, Eggner's Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake. Due to their location in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and their intended use as an evacuation route during an emergency, the new bridges were designed to withstand a large earthquake, as well as meet current highway standards.[8]

Henry R. Lawrence Memorial Bridge

The previous bridge at this location was a 20 feet (6.1 m) wide, two-lane Parker through truss bridge constructed in 1932. This bridge was named posthumously after newspaperman and former Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives Henry R. Lawrence (died 1933) of The Cadiz Record, due to his advocacy for good roads and bridges.[9] In 1962, the bridge was closed until late 1963, during which time the crossing was served by a ferry, and raised 10.5 feet (3.2 m) to allow clearance when the Cumberland River, which it crossed, was impounded and the valley flooded to create Lake Barkley.[10] It was deemed eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, as a product of the Murphy Toll Bridge Act of 1928.[10]

References
  1. National Steel Bridge Alliance. "Lake Bridges Over Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley". American Institute of Steel Construction. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  2. "Land Between the Lakes Replacement Bridges". Michael Baker International. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  3. Stephens, Bill (February 8, 2017). "Target date set for new Lake Barkley Bridge arch placement". 101.3 FM WMSK Morganfield Sturgis. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  4. Center for Innovative Financial Support. "Project Profile: Lake Bridges: Kentucky Lake Bridge & Lake Barkley Bridge". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  5. "Lake Barkley Bridge". Bridges & Tunnels. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  6. Taylor, Henry (September 26, 2019). "Lake Barkley Bridge to Land Between the Lakes opens with biking trail". Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. "New Lake Barkley Bridge Officially Open with Today's Ribbon Cutting". Explore Kentucky Lake. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  8. Robson, Brad; Rust, David; McLemore, Kyle (2016). Seismic Design of the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Approach Spans (PDF). World Steel Bridge Symposium. American Institute of Steel Construction.
  9. "June 16, 1933 - Henry R. Lawrence died..." Cadiz - Trigg County, Kentucky Bicentennial. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  10. "Lake Barkley Bridge". Historic Bridges. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
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