Ballard County fiscal court moves to bid Deerfield low-water crossing and Shelby Grove bridge projects

Ballard County Fiscal Court on Feb. 18 voted to put two road projects — a Deerfield low-water crossing and a bridge replacement on Shelby Grove Road — out to the county's standard procurement process.

The court's action authorizes staff to seek bids for the two projects, both of which had been discussed with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and other district staff. Court members noted the Deerfield project had been approved through a state award process and that changing the project would risk losing about $150,000 in state funding. For Shelby Grove, the court discussed a roughly $400,000 construction price and a county match of $50,000.

Court members said the Deerfield crossing is a structure similar to installations in Bowling Green intended to carry water flow while minimizing traffic dips; concerns raised during discussion focused on debris accumulation and the need for signage and guardrails. County staff said KYTC and local district personnel, including Kyle Pope and Todd Vance, were involved in design reviews and outreach to contractors. Members discussed on-site conditions, possible embankment buildup if material is placed over a culvert, and the expected depth and width of the crossing.

On Shelby Grove Road, court members said the project would be a concrete box structure and that a 60-foot span was contemplated. Officials discussed local match and bid amounts, and one member said the county's contribution would be $50,000 toward a $400,000 bid price.

Court discussion made repeated reference to coordination with KYTC and district staff; no changes to the projects were approved at the meeting beyond moving forward with bidding and the normal procurement procedures.

The court did not specify construction start dates; members said final drawings had been sent to the state and that additional site visits would follow.