Sherman Minton Bridge
| Sherman Minton Bridge | |
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The bridge as seen from the flood wall in New Albany
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| Coordinates | 38°16′42.44″N 85°49′19.34″W / 38.2784556°N 85.8220389°WCoordinates: 38°16′42.44″N 85°49′19.34″W / 38.2784556°N 85.8220389°W |
| Carries | 6 lanes (3 upper, 3 lower) of   I‑64 / US 150
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| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Louisville, Kentucky and New Albany, Indiana |
| Maintained by | INDOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double-decked twin arch bridge |
| Total length | 2,052.9 ft (625.7 m) |
| Width | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Longest span | 800 ft (240 m) |
| Clearance above | 16.3 ft (5.0 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 80,000/day |
 Sherman Minton Bridge
Location in Kentucky
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The Sherman Minton Bridge is a double-deck through arch bridge spanning the Ohio River, carrying I-64 and US 150 over the river between Kentucky and Indiana. The bridge connects the west side of Louisville, Kentucky to downtown New Albany, Indiana.
In 1952 the "Second Street Bridge" was reaching peak traffic, and the K&I Bridge faring similarly. Arthur W. Grafton commissioned two studies in 1952 and 1953, with their results being a need for two bridges in Louisville; one crossing to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and the other to New Albany. Hoosiers as far as Scottsburg, Indiana (30 miles (48 km) away) were vastly against making any bridges toll, and many residents of Louisville were against toll bridges as well. When the Interstate Highway System was announced by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the solution became clear. The Federal government would finance 90% of both bridges, with Indiana paying 10% of the New Albany bridge, and Kentucky paying 10% of the Jeffersonville bridge.
The New Albany bridge was given to Hazelet & Erdal, of Louisville to design in 1956. Construction began in June 1959, and was completed in August 1962. It was built at a cost of $14.8 million. In December 1962 Indiana governor Matthew E. Welsh announced it would be named for the former United States Senator and Supreme Court justice Sherman Minton, who was a native of New Albany. The American Institute of Steel Construction in 1961 named it the most beautiful long-span bridge of the year.
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Wikipedia