Federal Highway Administration October 27, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to section 658.11 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, the Indiana Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announces the continued closure of the I-64 Sherman-Minton Bridge over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky which the Indiana Governor closed on September 9, 2011, for safety considerations. After consultation with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and the FHWA, it was recommended that the bridge be closed after the discovery of a crack in a critical load-carrying element of the bridge. The closure is for an indefinite period of time. The INDOT is detouring eastbound I-64 traffic onto I-265 eastbound to I-65 southbound to cross the Ohio River and rejoin I-64 eastbound in Kentucky. The KYTC is detouring westbound I-64 traffic, bound for destinations beyond Louisville, onto northbound I-264 (or I-265) to southbound I-71 to northbound I-65 to cross the Ohio River and follow the Indiana detour. Under title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and restrictions), the FHWA can grant the closing of the Interstate system or other National Network route based upon specified justification criteria in section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is also authorized to delete any route from the National Network on an emergency basis based on safety considerations pursuant to section 658.11(e). The FHWA has decided to approve the request by the Indiana Division of the FHWA as an emergency deletion in accordance with section 658.11(e) due to the safety considerations discussed in this notice. The FHWA is requesting comments from the general public on the alternate routes selected by Indiana due to the closure.