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Cabinet approves $75,000 to stabilize damaged Dover Covered Bridge

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has approved $75,000 to temporarily support and stabilize the Dover Covered Bridge in Mason County.

In late July, a flash flood severely damaged the historic wooden bridge when thunderstorms dropped more than 7 inches of rain across the region. Lee Creek rose out of its banks and washed away two 12,000-pound steel support beams from under the bridge. Floodwater also shifted its truss off foundations and peeled away blacktop on the road at either end.

Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 engineers immediately closed the structure to all traffic, and conducted damage assessments as contractors recovered the steel beams.

Working with city, county and other state officials, engineers began seeking funds to stabilize the bridge and protect it from further damage or possible collapse until a full repair project can be developed.

Partnering with the state, the Buffalo Trace Covered Wooden Bridge Authority has advertised for a consultant to provide options to best stabilize the bridge, cost estimates and technical assistance.

Following the chosen consultant’s recommendation, the now-approved $75,000 in Rural Secondary Road Aid emergency funds will be used for stabilization work – which will be done as soon as possible.

The Dover Covered Bridge, also known as Lee's Creek Covered Bridge, dates back to as early as 1835 when the 61-foot structure opened as a toll bridge. Renovated by the Bower Bridge Company in 1926 then the Kentucky Highway Department in 1966, it remained largely the same until the late 1980s when the steel support beams were added underneath. It was bypassed in 2005, and is now part of KY 3113 just south of KY 8 near the Ohio River at Dover.

Although open to traffic before the July storm damage, the covered bridge will remain closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycle traffic until further notice due to safety concerns.

(provided by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."
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