14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, OwensboroINDOT: Sherman Minton Bridge may reopen about one week early

NEW ALBANY, IN (WAVE) - The Sherman Minton Bridge may reopen a week early. Late Tuesday morning, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced that the bridge could open about a week earlier than the contracted March 1 deadline.

The double-decker bridge, which carries Interstate 64 traffic between New Albany and Louisville, was shut down September 9, 2011 by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels after a significant crack was found in a load bearing element.

Some preparations are underway this week for the reopening of the span. That includes striping crews working to restore ramp lanes to their original configuration where I-64 meets I-265, the Lee Hamilton Highway.

Barrels and barricades will remain to detour traffic over to the Lee Hamilton. Motorists should plan for extra delays while these changes are taking place.

The installation of reinforcing steel along the outside of the bridge beams and tie girders has been mostly completed, but the more complex work of installing steel plates on the inside faces underneath the bridge continues.

According to INDOT, the work is 80 percent complete.

INDOT officials say no exact date of the bridge reopening has been announced.

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