By Emma Collins and Gian Prabhudas, Building Kentucky
The Sherman Minton Bridge turned 60 years old this August, and to commemorate the iconic infrastructure, the public and local businesses were invited to participate in an online quiz for the chance to win a prize supporting New Albany and West Louisville businesses.
Quiz participants were asked five Sherman Minton-related questions ranging from the color the bridge is being painted (aluminum/silver) to how many years of life the renewal will add to the bridge (30). The ten winners chosen from the 760 entries received a $60 gift card to one of the participating businesses near the bridge:
- J&B Magic Shop and Theater
- 812 Vintage Clothing
- Regalo Arts
- Strandz Salon and Threadz Boutique
- Recbar 812
- Elderberry Co.
- West Louisville’s Shawnee Golf Course and First Tee
- The Portland Museum
- Holiday Hairstyles
- Chicago’s Jerk Tacos
“We’re very excited to be part of Sherman Celebrates 60,” said Aaron Williams, owner of Chicago’s Jerk Tacos. “We have regulars from West Louisville and New Albany and look forward to the Sherman Minton Bridge offering a renewed connection between our two communities to eat, shop and more for years to come.”
The Sherman Minton Bridge, which carries I-64 and US 150 traffic over the Ohio River between Louisville, KY, and New Albany, IN, was the first U.S. interstate bridge built in the Louisville area and is one of the few double-decked bridges in the country. Named after World War I veteran and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sherman Minton, it opened to traffic September 1, 1962.
Kokosing Construction Company, Inc., the contractor team leading the bridge rehabilitation, sponsored the trivia contest.
“We’re using this special occasion to bring attention to the bridge and invite the community to learn more about this important structure in the process,” said Vince Martini, senior project manager for Kokosing Construction Company. “Since the Sherman Minton Bridge is such an important connector for New Albany and West Louisville residents who travel it daily for business or pleasure, we’re expecting to get a lot of interest from the community.”
The bridge still has its original deck, which is being replaced as part of the major rehabilitation that is ongoing. Phase 1 construction began last summer, and Phase 2 begins later this summer.
Several videos were also released in honor of the 60th anniversary, including one sharing the history of the Sherman Minton Bridge from Project Team leaders and community members, one about Justice Sherman Minton himself and one with advice from locals over 60 on how to age gracefully.
What is the Sherman Minton Renewal?
The Sherman Minton Renewal is a major rehabilitation and painting project that will add up to 30 years of life to the 60-year-old bridge. The double-decked bridge carries six lanes of traffic (I-64 and US 150) over the Ohio River connecting Louisville, KY and New Albany, IN.
Construction on the Sherman Minton Bridge is a multi-phase process, taking place over three construction seasons. To minimize impacts on cross-river commuters in Louisville and Southern Indiana during rehabilitation, the Project Team is using a low-impact maintenance of traffic approach that ensures at least one lane of traffic in each direction will remain open for nearly 95% of the time.
For more information, visit ShermanMintonRenewal.com.
