Public officials are responding to the announcement that the repair of the Sherman Minton Bridge will cost $20 million and take an estimated six months.The 50-year-old span connecting Kentucky to Indiana has been shut down since September 9 due to a crack found in its load bearing structure. The announcement was made by the governors of both states on Friday, following weeks of inspection.From Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's office:"I’m pleased that we have a plan to repair the bridge and get it reopened,” says Fischer. "Commuters and businesses will have to live with traffic inconveniences for up to six more months, but it’s better than the alternative of having the bridge closed for years."
From U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth's office:"The Sherman Minton does not need extensive repairs which is great news for our community. A timeframe of six months is much better than several years, however, it is still a long time for commuters and local businesses," says Yarmuth. "A bipartisan coalition has come together to make this a top national priority and we remain committed to doing whatever it takes to expedite the process and get traffic moving across the bridge again."