William H. Natcher Bridge
Encyclopedia
The William H. Natcher Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge
that carries U.S. Highway 231 over the Ohio River
. The bridge connects Owensboro, Kentucky
to Rockport, Indiana
and opened on October 21, 2002. It is named in honor of William Huston Natcher
, a former United States Representative
who served Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District from 1954 until his death in 1994. The bridge project was named for Natcher only three months before his death. It is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and was commissioned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation
and the Federal Highway Administration
.
' longest cable-supported bridge over an inland waterway.
mere feet away from the river's bank. Congressman Natcher first began seeking federal funds for the new bridge in 1988. Construction ran across the late 1990s and early 2000s at a cost of US$70 million (approximately $40 million from federal sources, $30 million from state sources). Originally slated for a 1996 completion, the bridge was the victim of numerous funding delays from both the federal and state levels. Though the concrete pier
s (the bases which support the upright towers) were installed in 1995, construction on the bridge itself did not begin until 1998. Even then, the original plan was to have the bridge completed by the end of 2000, but the builders said that goal was unrealistic due to the complicated nature of the cable installation. It was finally dedicated on August 16, 2002, but did not open to traffic until October 21, 2002. The Natcher Bridge was designed by Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc. and built by Traylor Brothers of Evansville
.
in downtown Owensboro (approximately 6 miles downstream from the Natcher Bridge), and as part of a larger project to make U.S. Highway 231 a four-lane road between Owensboro and Interstate 64
near Dale, Indiana
. The U.S. 231 connection to I-64 in Indiana fully opened to traffic on March 15, 2011.
. U.S. Highway 231 in the city of Owensboro
was renumbered to Kentucky Route 2155 and in Indiana
from the old Glover Cary Bridge
to the Indiana four-lane expressway approach, old U.S. Highway 231 was renumbered to State Road 161.
Eventually, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
plans to extend the U.S. 60 By-Pass (also known as the Wendell H. Ford
Expressway) eastward from just north of the Kentucky 54 interchange to the junction of U.S. 60/231 and Kentucky 2830 between Owensboro and Maceo, Kentucky
. This project, in tandem with the Natcher Bridge and Indiana's project to expand U.S. 231 to four lanes from the Ohio River to Interstate 64
, will create an almost non-stop, high-speed route from I-64 near Dale, Indiana
to Interstate 65
in Bowling Green, Kentucky
, allowing a bypass of Louisville, Kentucky
.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
that carries U.S. Highway 231 over the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The bridge connects Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
to Rockport, Indiana
Rockport, Indiana
Rockport is a city in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Spencer County.-History:...
and opened on October 21, 2002. It is named in honor of William Huston Natcher
William Huston Natcher
William Huston Natcher was a Democratic congressman, serving in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 to 1994.-Early life:...
, a former United States Representative
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
who served Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District from 1954 until his death in 1994. The bridge project was named for Natcher only three months before his death. It is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and was commissioned by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is Kentucky's state-funded agency charged with building and maintaining U.S...
, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation
Indiana Department of Transportation
The Indiana Department of Transportation is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Indiana charged with maintaining and regulating transportation and transportation related infrastructure such as state owned airports, state highways and state owned canals or railroads.-Districts:INDOT is...
and the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
.
Specifications
The William H. Natcher Bridge is 4,505 feet (1,373 m) in length (including its approaches) and 67 feet (20 m) wide. It is supported by cables connected to two identical diamond-shaped towers, each 374 feet (114 m) tall. At the time of its construction, it was the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' longest cable-supported bridge over an inland waterway.
Construction
The concept for a new bridge to serve Owensboro dates back to 1987, when a Green River Area Development District study recommended a new bridge to connect to U.S. Highway 231 in Rockport, where the highway separated from Indiana State Road 66Indiana State Road 66
State Road 66 is an east–west highway in six counties in the southernmost portion of the U.S. state of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 66 begins at the eastern end of a toll bridge over the Wabash River in New Harmony and ends at U.S. Route 150 east of Hardinsburg...
mere feet away from the river's bank. Congressman Natcher first began seeking federal funds for the new bridge in 1988. Construction ran across the late 1990s and early 2000s at a cost of US$70 million (approximately $40 million from federal sources, $30 million from state sources). Originally slated for a 1996 completion, the bridge was the victim of numerous funding delays from both the federal and state levels. Though the concrete pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
s (the bases which support the upright towers) were installed in 1995, construction on the bridge itself did not begin until 1998. Even then, the original plan was to have the bridge completed by the end of 2000, but the builders said that goal was unrealistic due to the complicated nature of the cable installation. It was finally dedicated on August 16, 2002, but did not open to traffic until October 21, 2002. The Natcher Bridge was designed by Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc. and built by Traylor Brothers of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
.
Reasons for building
The bridge was constructed for two reasons: to relieve traffic congestion on the aging Glover Cary BridgeGlover Cary Bridge
The Glover H. Cary Bridge is a continuous truss bridge that spans the Ohio River between Owensboro, Kentucky and Spencer County, Indiana. It was named for the late U.S. Congressman Glover H. Cary , and opened to traffic in September 1940...
in downtown Owensboro (approximately 6 miles downstream from the Natcher Bridge), and as part of a larger project to make U.S. Highway 231 a four-lane road between Owensboro and Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
near Dale, Indiana
Dale, Indiana
Dale is a town in Carter Township, Spencer County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,593 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1843 and initially called Elizabeth, it was renamed after Robert Dale Owen of New Harmony, the town's congressman at the time....
. The U.S. 231 connection to I-64 in Indiana fully opened to traffic on March 15, 2011.
Effects of bridge
A new four-lane expressway, from U.S. Highway 60 near Owensboro to the Natcher Bridge was constructed. Upon the completion of the bridge, U.S. Highway 231 was rerouted onto the new four-lane highway and around Owensboro, KentuckyOwensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. U.S. Highway 231 in the city of Owensboro
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
was renumbered to Kentucky Route 2155 and in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
from the old Glover Cary Bridge
Glover Cary Bridge
The Glover H. Cary Bridge is a continuous truss bridge that spans the Ohio River between Owensboro, Kentucky and Spencer County, Indiana. It was named for the late U.S. Congressman Glover H. Cary , and opened to traffic in September 1940...
to the Indiana four-lane expressway approach, old U.S. Highway 231 was renumbered to State Road 161.
Eventually, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is Kentucky's state-funded agency charged with building and maintaining U.S...
plans to extend the U.S. 60 By-Pass (also known as the Wendell H. Ford
Wendell H. Ford
Wendell Hampton Ford is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate and was the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. He was the first person to be successively elected lieutenant governor, governor, and U.S. senator in Kentucky history...
Expressway) eastward from just north of the Kentucky 54 interchange to the junction of U.S. 60/231 and Kentucky 2830 between Owensboro and Maceo, Kentucky
Maceo, Kentucky
Maceo is an unincorporated community in Daviess County, Kentucky, United States. Maceo is located at the junction of Kentucky Route 2830 and Kentucky Route 405, near U.S. Route 60, northeast of Owensboro. Maceo has a post office with ZIP code 42355....
. This project, in tandem with the Natcher Bridge and Indiana's project to expand U.S. 231 to four lanes from the Ohio River to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
, will create an almost non-stop, high-speed route from I-64 near Dale, Indiana
Dale, Indiana
Dale is a town in Carter Township, Spencer County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,593 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1843 and initially called Elizabeth, it was renamed after Robert Dale Owen of New Harmony, the town's congressman at the time....
to Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
, allowing a bypass of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
External links/References
- William H. Natcher Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
- William H. Natcher Bridge at KentuckyRoads.com
- William H. Natcher Bridge at Parsons Brinckerhoff, bridge designer
- Natcher Bridge Images KentuckyRoads.com