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Franklin County seeks state emergency funds to repair small bridge after structural deterioration
Summary
The fiscal court agreed to apply for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet emergency county/municipal road aid funds to repair a small bridge ('Mr. De's'); engineers offered repair options from about $110,000 up to $257,000 and the county committed to an application for up to $100,000 in state funds with the required local match.
Franklin County Fiscal Court voted June 10 to apply for emergency state road aid to repair a small county bridge identified as 'Mr. De's' bridge, after engineers found a deteriorated beam that forced a weight restriction and partial closure.
HMBB engineers presented three repair options: an estimated full deck replacement at roughly $257,000; a mid-level repair near $145,000; and a lower-cost option around $110,000 that would restore the bridge to operational condition and lift the posted weight restriction. Belinda, the county engineer representative, said the $110,000 option would allow usual traffic and that the county could seek the state emergency grant of up to $100,000 with a local 25% match.
Magistrates questioned the bridge’s history; some noted the bridge deck was reused and older box beams were in place. Mike from the road department explained past decisions to reuse materials and said the department would work with engineers to refine RFP wording. The court coalesced around a plan to seek the state $100,000 emergency grant and to allocate a local match from road-department salary savings or reserves as necessary.
Court members emphasized the value of a more‑complete repair to avoid repeated short-term fixes. The bridge is about 30 feet long and provides primary access to a small number of residences; county staff said they negotiated a partial closure to preserve local access while ensuring safety.
Why it matters: A failure of a local bridge can isolate residents and impede emergency response; the court moved quickly to try to capture remaining FY appropriations at the state level rather than waiting for the next full funding cycle.
What’s next: County staff will finalize an RFP and submit the grant application before the end of the month; engineering and procurement will follow if awarded.
