FOX41.com Louisville News Kentucky Indiana News Weather SportsConstruction begins again on Harrods Creek Bridge

Construction begins again on Harrods Creek Bridge

Construction has started yet again on the Harrods Creek bridge.  It's popular with commuters on River Road to and from Prospect.  7500 cars a day used the bridge.

The city says it's unlikely any more legal challenges will delay the construction, which originally should've been finished by now  .A year of detours from the closing of the Harrods Creek Bridge still brings delays and frustration along River Road.

Brent George runs Cunningham's Creekside Restaurant, which has fewer customers than before.  Asked about his parking lot if the bridge were open, he replied, "I obviously think there would be more cars.  A lot of it has to do (with) it is harder to get to."

Construction on the bridge resumed within the last month after the conservation group River Fields dropped two lawsuits against it.  Louisville Metro government closed the bridge suddenly last November, saying guardrail supports had rotted -- the one-lane bridge could no longer restrain errant drivers from the water below.

As George puts it "If they gave us a hard-and-fast date, I would be thankful.  I wouldn't even question it.  It would be just atrocious if it ran deep into next spring, which is the really busy season."

Think June or July before the bridge re-opens with two lanes atop existing supports.  Metro spokeswoman Lindsay English tells Fox 41 News, "It'll probably mid-next year when people will actually be able to drive across the bridge."

The city says construction should cost just over $3 million.  Some of the work must wait until warmer weather.  Early this year the city thought all the construction would be finished by now.  But instead there have been several starts and stops.

The barricades went up the night before last Thanksgiving.  Construction started in May, then stopped so engineers could change the plans.  It started again in July, but stopped quickly with those lawsuits.  Work picked up again with their dismissal.

Those 7500 drivers, and more, will now have a second winter and spring to use detours via Lime Kiln Lane and Wolf Pen Branch Road.