The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Tuesday that the Caldwell County Fiscal Court will receive $32,000 in County Road Aid emergency funds. The money is to help the county with the cost of repairing a bridge on Old Madisonville Road (CR 1200) and a bridge on Donaldson Road (CR 1320).

According to Caldwell County Judge Executive Brock Thomas, both projects will improve transportation safety and reliability for citizens of the county.

“We have a bridge on Old Madisonville Road that is at a bend in a branch of Wiley Creek,” Thomas said. “Several storms have caused major erosion near the bridge. The repair plan calls for Gabion baskets to be placed along the roadway to stabilize the embankment. This road is at the northeast corner of Princeton just outside city limits. At this time the school system will not allow school buses to cross the bridge. The repairs should allow school buses to resume traveling through the area.”

Thomas noted that the existing bridge deck is made of rough sawed oak. The repair work includes pouring concrete footers and replacing the deck with metal sheeting and an asphalt overlay. Thomas says work planned on Donaldson Road is equally important.

“Our project on Donaldson Road involves replacing a bridge with severe erosion around the bridge ends. This is the northwestern part of the county between Fredonia and the Creswell area. Donaldson Road runs between 139 and 70. Ten or more families depend on it for transportation, along with several farmers. Gabion baskets will also be used there to stabilize the embankment to reduce risk of erosion,” Thomas said.

On behalf of the county Thomas expressed his appreciation to the district highway office staff for assistance with plans for the repairs and to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials in Frankfort for approving the emergency assistance.

The transportation cabinet holds 3 percent of county road funds in reserve to respond to emergency requests.

“These emergency funds are being used to repair roadways to help improve safety and mobility,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “These projects are a good example of the cabinet’s commitment to providing a solid infrastructure in Caldwell County and all across the Commonwealth.”

The Caldwell County Fiscal Court will be responsible for administering the funds and completing the repairs.