A rusting a faded bridge that connects Owensboro, Ky., to southern Indiana will close for around six months while it is painted.
TheMessenger-Inquirer reports Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne made the announcement Monday during a speech at the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Payne said the $17 million paint job for the Glover H. Cary Bridge, known simply as the "blue bridge," would take up to two years if a lane is kept open for traffic, so officials decided to close it and get the job done quicker. He said the bridge would close in May after the International Bar-B-Q Festival and wouldn't "until they get it finished," which is expected to happen by November.
"I kind of like that," Payne said of the shorter schedule. "Knock it out all at one time."
Officials announced late last year that the bridge would be painted in 2013.
A Transportation Cabinet official said Monday that a contractor was expected to be named this month.
The bridge was originally scheduled to be painted in about four years, but the project was fast-tracked due to efforts by State Rep. Tommy Thompson, a Philpot Democrat, and State Sen. Joe Bowen, an Owensboro Republican.
