The Eggner Ferry Bridge will be repaired and reopened by Memorial Day weekend, Governor Steve Beshear said when he spoke at Kenlake State Park late Thursday morning.

“After getting my first look at the damage done to the Eggners Ferry Bridge when the cargo vessel hit it … I was acutely aware that the closure of the bridge would cost our businesses, local residents and tourists significant amounts of time and money,” Beshear said. “Restoring traffic on the bridge was among my highest priorities.”

Beshear announced the awarding of an emergency contract to Louisville-based Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc. He went on to say that he’s “confident” that the deadline will be met, as Hall Contracting is same company that last month completed repairs on the Interstate 64 Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville ahead of schedule.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet awarded the contract to that firm because they had the lowest bid of $7 million. There were two other bids on the project. Walsh Contracting of Crown Point, Ind., bid $11.2 million, while C.J. Mahan of Grove City, Ohio bid $11.4 million.

Beshear said the “critical requirement” is to have the bridge reopened by Sunday, May 27, and that there will be a $50,000-per-day penalty for every day after that deadline that the bridge isn’t complete.

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