Transportation Cabinet Advertises for Contract to Remove Closed Broadway Bridge in Frankfort to Ensure Safety and Reopen River Traffic
Kentucky River, part of River View Park remains closed at bridge
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 16, 2024) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today issued an expedited advertisement for a contractor to remove the closed Broadway Bridge in Frankfort to eliminate hazards to boat and pedestrian traffic. It’s the first step in Team Kentucky’s commitment to safely reopening a section of the Kentucky River and River View Park after both were closed last week as a precaution.
Contractors will have about two weeks to bid on the demolition project and a contract will be executed as quickly as possible by KYTC.
On Sunday, Aug. 4, sidewalk and railing debris fell from the aging structure, which has been closed to vehicles and pedestrians since 1993.
Transportation Cabinet crews immediately inspected the structure and began working with the City of Frankfort and the U.S. Coast Guard on measures to protect public safety.
“We’re taking swift action to do all we can to reopen the waterway as soon as possible with safety leading the way,” said Transportation Secretary Jim Gray.
At the cabinet’s request, the U.S. Coast Guard has established a temporary safety zone at Kentucky River mile markers 65.5 to 66, restricting all vessels from traveling under the structure until Sept. 6.
The City of Frankfort has placed safety fencing and signs to block the walking trail and areas near the bridge at River View Park.
Preliminary demolition plans include removing the bridge spans near the city shoreline first to reopen the river to boat traffic – it primarily serves recreational vessels and a few commercial tour boats – and restore park access. Then, the steel superstructure would be taken down carefully so as much as possible can be reused in the city’s future pedestrian crossing project.
Engineers investigated short-term methods to alleviate safety concerns and reopen waterway traffic, such as adding nets or removing loose debris, but those were not safe or feasible options because of the bridge’s deteriorated condition.
Broadway Bridge Conversion Project
The City of Frankfort has been actively working with the Transportation Cabinet to explore a solution that would create a rehabilitated pedestrian crossing on new piers near the existing Broadway Bridge and would also incorporate the historic steel truss span of the existing structure. The State Highway Plan signed by Gov. Andy Beshear in April 2022 provided $3.5 million for the construction of the new crossing. The city agreed in November 2022 to allocate up to $2 million for this work.
Engineering and environmental studies began, and a public meeting was held in November 2023. A preliminary line and grade meeting took place in December where engineers identified the preliminary preferred alternative – building a pedestrian crossing slightly downstream that would incorporate the steel superstructure of the old bridge, which was the alternative favored by the public – and discussed next steps in the project schedule.
This spring, the city applied for $1.7 million in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funds to help move the project forward.
Work continues to progress on federal environmental documents and other steps, with the goal to start construction on the project next year as funding allows.
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