Speaking

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) identified significant deficiencies in two cable-stayed bridges crossing the Ohio River. To address these issues, KYTC engaged Burgess & Niple (B&N) to perform detailed inspections, conduct non-destructive testing, develop rehabilitation plans and provide construction observation throughout the repair process.

Because many of the repairs were common to both structures, this presentation focuses primarily on the William H. Natcher Cable-Stayed Bridge in Daviess County. The Natcher Bridge is 4,505 feet long and 67 feet wide, supported by 96 stay cables anchored to a pair of 374-foot-tall diamond-shaped towers. When it opened in 2002, it was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the United States to span an inland waterway.

The second structure, the William H. Harsha Bridge, measures 2,420 feet from abutment to abutment and is supported by 80 stay cables connected to two identical H-shaped towers. While many repairs mirrored those on the Natcher Bridge, several key rehabilitation elements differed due to variations in the design and deterioration patterns.

Protective system deterioration was first documented on the Natcher Bridge in 2005 and on the Harsha in 2012. Conditions worsened rapidly on both structures, ultimately threatening critical load-carrying components. B&N’s team conducted comprehensive inspection and testing programs, then developed detailed rehabilitation strategies tailored to each bridge. Construction on the Natcher began in fall 2024, followed by the Harsha in spring 2025. Both projects remain underway. 

The presentation will highlight the methods and strategies used to inspect, evaluate and preserve these landmark structures, ensuring their long-term safety, performance and durability. 

The Beach Road Bridge, completed in 2001, is a 203-foot cable-stayed span over Big Darby Creek in northern Franklin County, Ohio. Its design was selected to replace an older through-truss bridge while avoiding the construction of new substructure elements within the protected scenic river. Several key components—including the stay cables and the precast, post-tensioned lightweight-concrete superstructure—require specialized evaluation. Testing performed in 2022 identified grout voids, corrosion at anchorages and deterioration of the lightweight concrete. Laboratory analysis confirmed Alkali Silica Reactivity (ASR) as the primary cause of the concrete damage. A repair and preservation effort is currently underway, involving remedial grouting of tendons and anchorages, removal and replacement of deteriorated concrete and protective measures aimed at slowing further ASR-related deterioration. Construction is ongoing and is expected to be completed in 2026.

Attendees can apply insights from this presentation to strengthen evaluation and maintenance practices for cable-supported and post-tensioned bridges. The findings on ASR-related deterioration, tendon defects and anchorage corrosion can guide improved inspection planning, material selection and long-term preservation strategies. Attendees can also adapt the repair methods discussed to extend the service life and reliability of similar structures in their own agencies or projects.