Flooding to force Kentucky DOT to close Cairo Bridge

The Kentucky Department of Transportation is closing the Cairo Bridge because of flooding, a spokesman confirmed. The bridge was set to close on the night of Friday, March 2, and could be shut down for at least a week.

Keith Todd, a spokesman for the Kentucky DOT, said the detour will require an 80-mile trip from Wickliffe to Cairo via Interstates 24 and 57.

The U.S. Highway 51 Ohio River Cairo Bridge carries Highways 51, 60 and 62 across the river between Kentucky and Illinois. It also connects to the nearby U.S. 60/U.S. 62 Mississippi River Bridge between Illinois and Missouri. About 4,700 vehicles cross the Cairo Bridge daily.

Mary McKenna with Land Line Now contributed to this report.