The City of Elsmere and Norfolk Southern announced Friday they had established a new partnership to address ongoing concerns about the Garvey Avenue Bridge.
The bridge recently had its weight rating reduced by the state, making it impossible for the city’s fire trucks to use the bridge.
“The City of Elsmere and Norfolk Southern share a responsibility to bring this matter to a close, and we are working together with urgency and purpose,” said Mayor Marty Lenhof in the announcement. “Our residents deserve dependable access and safe infrastructure. We appreciate Norfolk Southern’s partnership and remain committed to taking the steps necessary to reach a permanent and responsible solution. We also thank our community for standing with us as we navigate this challenge, your patience and support make a tremendous difference.”
The bridge’s weight rating was reduced from 27 tons to 13 tons by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in late July, following a recent structural analysis. At the time, city leaders expressed worry the weight limit reduction would restrict emergency vehicles’ ability to move through the city quickly as Garvey Avenue is one of the city’s main thoroughfares.
The announcement states the city is reviewing records related to the bridge, “some dating back to the 1940s,” to better their evaluation and remediation efforts. “Through coordinated planning and ongoing discussions, Norfolk Southern and the City are jointly advancing engineering assessments, defining corrective actions and working toward full restoration of the bridge’s operational integrity,” the announcement reads.
You can read the full statement at the city’s dedicated webpage here.
