MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. — After several collisions and hundreds of traffic violation citations around the work zone on the Interstate 24 Ohio River Bridge, Paducah area law enforcement and Illinois Department of Transportation are urging drivers to exercise caution and obey road signs.
Ben Wills, construction engineer for District 9 with IDOT, said there are several safety precautions in place currently to try and prevent crashes. Those include a smart traffic control system, rumble strips, and encouraging drivers to use the zipper merge strategy.
There are several indicators ahead of the I-24 Ohio River Bridge construction. Photo taken May 2, 2025, in Metropolis, Illinois.
While the work zone drops down to a 55-mph speed limit, the McCracken County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky State Police have given out hundreds of citations. The Paducah Police Department said they have also seen many drivers speeding through the area.
Wills stressed the importance of paying attention when driving, especially in a work zone.
Backups can occur especially if drivers do not use the zipper merge method. Photo taken May 2, 2025, in Metropolis, Illinois.
"There's no way that we can repair the bridge without closing the lane, unfortunately. The other thing is, you know, when we get into full-on structural repairs and the joints, we're going to have 20-foot-wide holes out there. So, the barrier has to be there, you know, to protect the traffic and to protect the workers," Wills said. "The inconvenience is there, because anytime we have that much traffic volume, and then we reduce it down in one lane. That's what you get at peak times. So, you know, we just ask that everybody be patient and try to work through, you know, their day with understanding where the queues are going to be, and add extra time on your commute."
Wills added that distracted driving is also an issue.
Wills advises drivers to allot more time than needed to navigate I-24 traffic. Photo taken May 2, 2025, in Metropolis, Illinois.
"Maybe as folks are coming up into the work zone, they're looking at the work and seeing what's going on, on the bridge, maybe they're looking at the river, but their eyes are not on the road. And then we end up with a rear end," he said. "And when traffic is stacked up, one rear end can lead to multiple rear ends... When you're coming through the zone, we have all the devices in place. We're letting you know what's going on up ahead. We're telling you where the stop traffic is. We're telling you to slow down. We're regulating the speed limit. Just pay attention to all that stuff. And as you're coming through the zone, don't ride right behind somebody where you don't have enough stopping distance."
Blake Quinn, community engagement officer for the Paducah Police Department, said officers hope drivers will place a higher emphasis on staying safe.
"It's very common to feel peer pressure from other drivers as you're going through a construction zone, but studies have shown routinely that the slower your vehicle is traveling, the less damage or injury you could receive in the event of a collision," said Quinn. "Any collision can seriously impact traffic. So what we've done as far as our approach to that area to make everyone safer, is that we will have zone units performing traffic control in that area. Additionally, we have details that will do traffic enforcement through that area as well. If people can see the lights and see that people are pulled over, we hope that it slows them down and can prevent collisions."
Wills said to remember to leave plenty of space between yourself and other drivers and be sure to allow for extra time in your commute on Thursdays and Fridays, as those are busier traffic days.
