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County secures BUILD grant for Ironbridge replacement; approves CHBP cooperative agreement
Summary
Jackson County was notified it won an FY26 BUILD grant for Ironbridge replacement as part of a seven-county application; the county has roughly $5.7 million in grants for the project (including a prior $2 million DOT loan) and is targeting a March 2028 letting. Separately, the board approved a resolution supporting an FY26 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) cooperative agreement covering two county bridges.
Jackson County officials told the board on July 14 that the county was officially notified it had been awarded an FY26 BUILD grant for the Ironbridge replacement. The BUILD award was part of a joint application with six other counties; county staff said the award and other grants bring the county’s grant tally for the Ironbridge replacement to roughly $5.7 million, including a prior $2 million loan from DOT.
A county roads representative said the Ironbridge project is under design and the county is aiming for a March 2028 letting. Because the existing bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, staff discussed mitigation requirements and the county’s preference to move the new bridge downstream in order to avoid extended mitigation processes that are not covered by the grant funds.
Earlier in the meeting the board approved and authorized the chair’s signature on a cooperative agreement and resolution supporting the FY26 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grant package that includes Morehead and another bridge (bridges identified in the packet as 19-19-21 and 19-46-71). County staff explained the CHBP application is part of a bundled statewide package and said the FHWA’s award decision is expected around September.
Officials noted expected local match could be in the neighborhood of 20% if the grant is awarded and emphasized that, if awarded, the bundle would be executed by the state and the counties included in the package would be part of a single application.
