Daviess County approves KYTC 80/20 bridge funding for Baird Road; public raises concerns about Panther Creek emergency replacement

The Daviess County Fiscal Court on Sept. 4 approved Resolution 16-2025, an agreement to use Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) 80/20 bridge funds to supplement county funding for selected bridge projects, including design and construction work on Browns Valley Red Hill Road and supplemental work on Baird Road.

County Engineer Mr. Duper told the court the KYTC 80/20 program pays 80% of eligible project costs, with the county responsible for the remaining 20%. He said the county plans to hire a KYTC-approved design firm to produce plans and then bid the project, with construction anticipated in calendar year 2026.

“Going forward, even after this year, we would still continue to look at new bridges to replace with the eighty-twenty program,” Mr. Duper said, describing the program as a recurring source of funding for bridges the county selects for replacement.

Commissioners and the public discussed the choice of projects and timelines. Commissioner Marksberry asked about the timeline for a bridge that had been closed; the engineer said the design phase would begin with hiring an approved firm and the bid process would follow once drawings are complete.

During public comment, resident Hugh Bridal objected to a separate, emergency replacement of a Panther Creek bridge on Old Harford Road that is scheduled to be installed imminently. Bridal said the emergency project must replace the structure “exactly the same spot” and that he was told the Emergency County Road Aid Fund carries a cap of $150,000. He urged the court to consider a higher-elevation replacement for longevity and said the county’s chosen emergency approach would leave the bridge vulnerable to repeated high-water events. “If we could possibly get the fiscal court to get another 88,000 invested in the bridge to get it up out of the water for longevity is a better taxpayer use of money,” Bridal said, adding his estimate that total costs to taxpayers could be about $290,000 to $378,000 depending on options.

County staff and the judge clarified program limits: Mr. Duper said the county had already used its 80/20 allocation for this fiscal year on a prior culvert replacement (Baird Road) and that the 80/20 program is limited in how often and how much the county can tap. The judge also identified the emergency funding source used for the Panther Creek replacement as the Emergency County Road Aid Fund.

Why it matters: the KYTC 80/20 program helps counties fund bridge replacements that can be costly. The court’s approval authorizes the county to proceed with design and construction steps for the listed bridges; public concerns raised at the meeting highlight tradeoffs between immediate emergency replacements and potentially higher-cost modifications that could lengthen a bridge’s service life.

The court approved Resolution 16-2025 by voice vote. County staff said federally or state-funded programs and engineering approvals will guide final design and hydraulic analyses for any bridge-raising proposals.