State Road 237 lane closures begin in Cannelton for bridge lights

Alternating lane closures began on State Road 237 in Cannelton as crews started bridge lighting upgrades on the Bob Cummings Bridge over the Ohio River, tightening traffic through one of Perry County’s key river crossings. Indiana State Police’s Jasper District said the restrictions were set up to keep the work moving while lanes are limited.

The lane closures were scheduled for daytime hours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., which is the window when drivers were most likely to run into delays. Officials said the closures were alternating lane closures, not a full shutdown, and local traffic was still able to reach homes and businesses up to the point where the closure began.

The posted detour routed drivers from State Road 237 to State Road 37 and then to State Road 62. That will send through-traffic away from the bridge while work continues on lighting improvements, a project officials said should take about a month if weather cooperates.

For commuters, the practical effect is clear: travel through Cannelton on SR 237 will be slower and less predictable during the workday, especially when one lane is closed on the bridge crossing. Drivers headed across the Ohio River should plan for extra time and use the marked detour if they do not need to remain on the local side of the closure.

The bridge work adds another short-term disruption to a route many Perry County drivers use for daily errands, crossings into Cannelton, and travel along the river corridor. The lane changes are tied specifically to the Bob Cummings Bridge lighting upgrade, with the state police notice serving as the traffic alert for motorists using the route in and out of town.