While the Eggner Ferry Bridge is scheduled to be repaired by Memorial Day, its replacement and the replacement Lake Barkley Bridge are still a top priority in the two-year road plan, which was passed by the house last week.

The plan the house passed, also known as House Bill 267, has all of the money for the projects allocated out by the 2016 fiscal year. The cost of both bridges is estimated at $330 million. The plan will not be affected by the $7 million emergency expenditure to repair the Kentucky Lake Bridge.

The road plan also includes funds to widen U.S. 68/Ky. 80 from the east end of the Lake Barkley Bridge to the Cadiz By-Pass, and to finish the last two lanes of the Cadiz By-Pass. $6.5 million for that last project is allocated for the 2014 fiscal year.

In other bridge-related news, Hall Contracting of Kentucky, the contractor chosen to repair the Kentucky Lake Bridge, started engineering and design work last week, said Keith Todd, Public Information officer for Districts One and Two of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Hall Contracting Vice President Tom Roberts said the raw steel will be manufactured and then shipped to the company’s in-house fabrication facility to be prepared for assembly.

For the rest of this story, see this week's issue of The Cadiz Record or subscribe to our e-Edition by calling 270-522-6605.