Erlanger council approves state memorandum and municipal road aid as Old Narrows Road bridge repair advances

The Erlanger City Council on May 6 approved a memorandum of agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to provide up to $490,000 in reimbursable state funds for repairs to the Old Narrows Road bridge and adopted the city’s municipal road aid allocation of $458,459.02.

The vote came after public works staff told the council the bridge had been downgraded from a 34‑ton rating to 8 tons following state inspection and that temporary repairs and utility relocations were already under way. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the MOA and the municipal aid resolution.

The municipal aid allocation lists Narrows Road among the streets slated for repairs and improvements; public works staff said the city is eligible for emergency funding and has pursued multiple funding streams for the bridge project. “We just got informed they’re gonna be here by May 27,” a staff member identified in the meeting as Kevin said of the bridge beams, indicating work was scheduled to move forward.

City staff described a complex, multi‑agency effort to reopen the bridge. That work has included utility relocations by Duke Energy, line drops by Owen Electric, coordination with Spectrum and Alta Fiber, and consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and engineering firms including AECOM. The project also required two easements and temporary water service provided by the city for SD 1 customers, staff said.

Council documents and remarks at the meeting said the state funds are reimbursable and that SD 1 — the utility served by the bridge — participated financially in the original project and will receive credit or a portion of grant funding for its share of costs. City staff told the council they have secured nearly $600,000 in combined funding sources to cover the repair as the cost estimate rose during project development.

Council members thanked staff and outside partners for the “team effort” in tracking down funding and coordinating logistics. The council adopted the municipal aid resolution “as presented” and later adopted the MOA “as read”; in both cases council members responded “aye” and the mayor declared the motions carried.

City staff said the bridge is currently closed, crews were performing concrete work, and full structural beams were expected in late May. They also noted the bridge is inspected biennially and that the reduced weight rating significantly affected the utility and traffic the crossing supports.

The adopted MOA authorizes the city to receive up to $490,000 in reimbursable state funds for the Old Narrows Road bridge project; the municipal aid resolution accepts the state municipal road aid payment of $458,459.02 for use on listed streets. The council did not set a new traffic opening date; staff said further schedule updates would follow as work and reimbursements proceed.

Officials directed staff to continue coordinating with SD 1 and state agencies on project milestones and funding reimbursements. No public comments were recorded during the municipal aid item on the council agenda.