Cairo Ohio River Bridge
Bridge in Kentucky and Cairo, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cairo Ohio River Bridge is a cantilever bridge carrying U.S. Route 51, U.S. Route 60, and U.S. Route 62[2] across the Ohio River between Wickliffe, Kentucky[2] and Cairo, Illinois. Of all the Ohio River crossings, it is the furthest downstream; the Mississippi River can be seen while crossing the bridge and looking westward.
Cairo Ohio River Bridge | |
|---|---|
| |
| Coordinates | 36.9935°N 89.1462°W |
| Carries | 2 lanes of    US 51 / US 60 / US 62 |
| Crosses | Ohio River |
| Locale | Wickliffe, Kentucky and Cairo, Illinois |
| Maintained by | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever bridge |
| Total length | 5,863.7 feet (1,787.3 m) |
| Width | 20 feet (6.1 m) |
| Longest span | 800 feet (240 m) |
| 19.6 feet (6.0 m) | |
| History | |
| Opened | November 11, 1938[1] |
| Closed | July 6, 2026 (indefinitely, structure failure) |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Cairo Ohio River Bridge | |
This is an authorized truck route.
On July 6, 2026, the bridge was closed indefinitely due to a partial structural failure.[3]
History
Construction was awarded to Modjeski and Masters and the Mt. Vernon Bridge Co.[4] It was finished on November 11, 1938.[1]
The bridge's tolls were removed in 1948.
The Cairo Ohio River Bridge was rehabilitated in 1979 and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]
Steel framing
Eastern spans
.JPG)
