Story perspectives

KYTC Closes Left Lane on U.S. 41 Twin Bridge Indefinitely

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

United States – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed the left lane of the southbound U.S. 41 Twin Bridge indefinitely because of a rocker bearing problem.
Sen. Robby Mills said delays reach two hours, will meet KYTC, and wants both twin bridges open while permanent repairs occur before year-end.
Dryden, New York will bid in fall 2026 to replace the 1882 Freese Road bridge with a single-lane steel bridge reusing its trusses.
Kent County Council installed barriers on the Sandwich Toll Bridge after an 8 August 2026 strike, and New Zealand’s Pekatahi Bridge will close from 23 to 25 August 2026 (8 p.m.–6 a.m.) for clamp tightening, causing up to 20-minute delays.

Summary

Story summary

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will shut both directions of I-35 near Mesaba Avenue from 10 p.m. on August 17 until 5 a.m. on August 18 to install new beams for a pedestrian bridge over the freeway.
Travelers are being rerouted off I-35 during the overnight closure, with detour maps posted on the project website and real-time updates available at 511mn.org.
In Spartanburg County, South Carolina Department of Transportation closed John Dodd Road (S-42-60) after a Monday crash damaged a box culvert, keeping the road shut while assessments and repairs are completed.
The department’s detour directions require eastbound drivers to turn right onto Hope Road then left onto Mount Zion Road, and westbound drivers to turn left onto Mount Zion Road then right onto Hope Road to rejoin John Dodd Road.
South Carolina Department of Transportation also announced the Lost John Road bridge over Cabin Creek in Richland County will close to all but local traffic beginning Monday, August 24, with an 11-week repair schedule that targets reopening on November 6.

History

Historical Context

The 1916 Federal Aid Road Act began federal highway funding, but Eisenhower’s 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act authorized $25 billion and a 41,000-mile Interstate system with uniform bridge standards. Completed in 1992, the network now supports over 600,000 aging bridges, prompting closures by state agencies such as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Minnesota DOT.

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Story summary

United States – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed the left lane of the southbound U.S. 41 Twin Bridge indefinitely because of a rocker bearing problem.
Sen. Robby Mills said delays reach two hours, will meet KYTC, and wants both twin bridges open while permanent repairs occur before year-end.
Dryden, New York will bid in fall 2026 to replace the 1882 Freese Road bridge with a single-lane steel bridge reusing its trusses.
Kent County Council installed barriers on the Sandwich Toll Bridge after an 8 August 2026 strike, and New Zealand’s Pekatahi Bridge will close from 23 to 25 August 2026 (8 p.m.–6 a.m.) for clamp tightening, causing up to 20-minute delays.

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