One of only a handful of double-decker bridges in the USA, the bridge was dedicated in December 1961. Soon after that, it was named after the former US Senator and Supreme Court justice from New Albany. The American Institute of Steel Construction awarded it the most beautiful long-span bridge of the year.

The Problem

Age, decades of traffic and exposure to deicing chemicals led to the need for a major rehabilitation of this critical structure on the east-west interstate highway. After a period of significant communication and community involvement, the project was let as a design-build repair project. The Indiana Finance Authority coordinated the Sherman Minton Renewal project on behalf of the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 

The Result

The solution included jacking the bridge and replacing the bearings, complete removal of the concrete cover from the deteriorating pier caps using hydro demolition, placement of Galvashield^® DAS anodes at the top of the caps where high steel density was present and Galvashield^® N anodes on the side of the caps. Galvashield^® XP4 anodes were used to provide localized protection around the column repairs. Additionally, all exposed reinforcing steel was treated with an epoxy rebar coating prior to the completion of the form and poured concrete repairs.