Bridge safety crisis prompts urgent replacement plan

During a recent government meeting, officials discussed critical infrastructure improvements, specifically focusing on emergency repairs for the Old Hartford Road bridge, designated as project number 18609. The bridge, which had previously been rated for a 17-ton load, was downgraded to a mere 9 tons following a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) inspection in March 2024.

Mister Duper, representing the county road department, detailed the corrective measures taken to restore the bridge's load capacity, which included grouting between the joints of the box beams. However, subsequent evaluations revealed underlying structural issues that could not be addressed through these repairs, leading to a KYTC directive to close the bridge to all traffic as of July 30, 2024.

In response to the urgent need for repairs, the county has submitted an emergency request for road aid, securing $150,000 from the rural municipal aid program. This funding is the maximum available from KYTC for the project. Duper recommended a complete replacement of the bridge deck to ensure it can safely accommodate traffic once again.

The timeline for the project indicates that the engineering design phase should commence soon, with bidding expected in the spring of 2025 and construction slated to begin in the summer of that year. Officials expressed confidence in meeting the projected completion date of October 3, 2025, ensuring that the bridge will be restored to operational status in a timely manner.