FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet today ordered truck traffic to be diverted away from the eastbound span of the Combs-Hehl Bridge that carries Interstate 275 over the Ohio River, five miles east of Cincinnati.

The truck diversion was a conservative, precautionary action to reduce weight on the bridge following an inspection team’s discovery of a crack in a half-inch-thick steel splice plate.

Variable message boards are being used to alert truck drivers to the ban, which will be in effect until further notice.

Truck traffic was allowed to continue on the twin, westbound bridge. Both bridges are undergoing a regularly scheduled, biennial inspection. In addition, steel in the bridges is being tested for durability following the recent discovery of faulty steel in three splice plates on the westbound bridge. The testing is being done in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and Ohio Department of Transportation.

Both bridges, which have three lanes for traffic, were reduced to two lanes on Monday to accommodate inspectors’ equipment and to reduce weight on the bridges.

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