Kentucky allocates $7.75 million for local bridge repairs across state

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced a $7.75 million investment for repairing, replacing, or preserving 17 local bridges across 13 counties and three cities under the state’s County and City Bridge Improvement Program.

The funded projects are all located in smaller jurisdictions, many of which face financial limitations when it comes to major infrastructure work. According to the announcement, twelve of the bridges will be completely replaced while five will undergo repair or preservation measures. Every structure selected is either currently under weight restrictions or fully closed.

The funding will go to localities including Barren, Calloway, Crittenden, Graves, Laurel, Letcher, Livingston, Marion, Mason, McCracken, Trigg, Union, and Washington counties, as well as the cities of Georgetown, Winchester, and Wurtland.

Governor Beshear emphasized the importance of bridges in everyday life, saying they link families to jobs, schools, and local services. He noted that while construction often causes inconvenience, the projects will improve safety, shorten travel delays, and allow the state to address more road and bridge maintenance needs.

Kentucky currently has 3,155 bridges identified as needing repair as of June 2025, according to statistics from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

This $7.75 million award is part of a broader allocation under the County and City Bridge Improvement Program, which has already dispersed $32.6 million earlier in 2025 toward 75 city and county bridge projects.

Local officials expressed gratitude and underscored the impact of the funding. In Washington County, Judge Timothy Graves said that smaller counties often cannot raise the capital required to replace bridges of this size, making the state support crucial.

The state’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet encourage local governments to apply for future funding rounds.