Barge hits Eggner's Ferry Bridge, collapses section into Kentucky Lake

A barge struck the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge that carries U.S. Hwy. 68/80 across Kentucky Lake on Thursday night collapsing at least a section of the structure, Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd confirmed to Pure Politics.

Todd said no vehicles were on the two-lane bridge.

“So far as we know, no loss of life,” Todd said.

Chuck Wolfe, spokesman for the Transportation Cabinet in Frankfort, said the tow boat struck a main truss span, sending a section into the lake. He said transportation inspectors were headed to the bridge Thursday evening.

The Eggner’s Ferry Bridge was completed in 1932. Transportation officials designated the bridge as “functionally obsolete,” and it had been scheduled for replacement. The proposed six-year road plan includes funding to cover $330 million in bonds. Construction is scheduled to take two years.

The bridge carries an average of 2,800 cars per day, according to the Transportation Cabinet.

The collapse was first reported by WPSD-TV in Paducah. The Cadiz Record also reported that the tow boat’s 20 crew were accounted for and uninjured.