Commissioners approve $100,000 for engineering on Milltown (Bridal 65) bridge

The Fayette County commissioners on an oral vote authorized a $100,000 additional appropriation to the cumulative bridge fund to start engineering and preconstruction work on Milltown (Bridal 65) bridge.

A county surveyor (speaker 7) told the board the bridge will need a concrete overlay, beam wrapping and substructure attention and that the engineering team has already begun design work. "It's gonna get a concrete overlay and some beams and stuff underneath that need wrapped and just some general maintenance work," the surveyor said, adding that the goal is to make the structure last “another 25, 30 years.”

The surveyor said the county intends to apply for a 2027 Community Crossings grant (the program’s award amounts were recently reduced) and that engineering must be shovel‑ready to be competitive. "If we don't do anything, probably next 10 years or so it's gonna get into the superstructure," the surveyor said, noting repair costs would grow if deferred.

Chair (speaker 1) read the appropriation as "additional appropriation to cumulative bridge fund ... bridge number 65 in the amount of $100,000." Commissioner (speaker 2) seconded the motion and the board approved the appropriation by voice vote; the record shows no roll call tally.

The surveyor estimated construction would likely occur in 2028 if the county secures the grant and noted the work will require closing the bridge during construction. The board did not adopt a construction schedule at the meeting; next steps are to begin paying the designer and to finalize the Community Crossings application.

The county did not provide a detailed construction timeline or a binding contractor commitment at the meeting; funding for the full project will depend on the outcome of the Community Crossings grant application and future budget decisions.