LOUISVILLE, Ky. Officials, as well as drivers, in Indiana and Kentucky now know that the heavily traveled Sherman Minton Bridge that carriers Interstate 64 over the Ohio River will probably reopen in June.

A $13.9 million contract to repair the bridge that has been closed since Sept. 9, was awarded late last month. The span handles traffic between southern Indiana and Louisville.

The bridge was closed after a routine inspection turned up cracks in load-bearing steel joints. Subsequent inspections revealed additional joints that would have to be strengthened to make the bridge safe for the 70,000 to 80,000 vehicle trips made across it each day.

Indian Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the winning construction bid - which came in lower than the $20 million state transportation officials estimated - had been awarded to a Louisville construction company.

The company has committed to completing the repairs in 135 work days, a statement from the Indiana Department of Transportation noted.

Built by both Indiana and Kentucky, the bridge is maintained by Indiana.

Since the closing in September, traffic has been diverted to another interstate bridge, a span north of Louisville that carries Interstate 65 traffic between Kentucky and Indiana.

Under the terms of the contract, the contractor can receive an incentive of $100,000 for each day the bridge opens earlier than the 135 work days in the bid. Likewise, payments to the contractor will be reduced by $100,000 for each day the bridge stays closed past the 135 work days promised in the bid.

Workers will "attach 2.4 million pounds of reinforcing steel plating along both sides of the bridge ties, which run horizontally along the upstream and downstream sides of the 1,600-foot structure," the Indiana DOT said.

"The repairs will increase the bridges safety and reliability and, with regular maintenance, extend its useful life at least 20 years," INDOT said.

I-680 bridge reopens

OMAHA, Neb. -- After it was shut down in early June because of Missouri River flooding, repair work on the bridge that links Iowa and Nebraska, just north of Omaha, has been completed and the bridge reopened.

Officials had targeted the end of the year for the reopening but crews worked almost 24-hours a day on the $19 million project since late September to get the highway ready for traffic.

The highway experienced some of the worst damage from a summer of flooding on the Missouri River.