KYTC hears from Edmonson County locals about infrastructure needs

BROWNSVILLE, Ky.-Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials are continuing their listening tour. Today they heard from locals in Edmonson County who voiced concerns about dangerous road conditions.

In fiscal court this morning people in Brownsville asked the KYTC to look into several roads and bridges that they want repaired.

To name a few, Smith Hill on Hwy 1749 and Green River Bridge.

“The infrastructure needs of our state has been neglected for decades. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and Governor Bevin wants us to work with these officials to get these resolved,” said Gray Tomblyn, KYTC Rural and Municipal Aid Commissioner.

The winding and heavily shadowed Smith Hill slide stays icy and slick for a good portion of the year. Locals are asking the KYTC to put up guard rails to make it safer.

 “All it would take is one stranger driving through there at a speed that was too fast, and it might surprise them. Then we may be going over the hill there and getting them,” said Will Cannon, Judge Executive of Edmonson County.

The Green River Bridge was brought up several times in fiscal court today. It’s heavily traveled by those going back and forth between north and south Edmonson County.

“Everybody on the north side of the river has no way to get to Brownsville, or to schools, the hospitals without that bridge being there,” said Cannon.

Some locals are afraid to drive on the bridge.

“You can drive across the bridge and you can look and see the places where the concrete is chipping up on the walkways, and you can see the rebar under that exposed. Things like that concern people. They assure us that’s cosmetic damage only,” said Cannon.”

The KYTC has been working already to repair HWY 259 North and South in Edmonson County, as well as HWY 238 which is collapsing in several places.

“Edmonson County is like all other counties, they have critical infrastructure needs. Governor Bevin has been adamant that we work with the local officials and the local folks because they know what’s best in their communities,” said Tomblyn.

The KYTC will visit all 120 counties during their listening tour, before heading back to Frankfurt and working to address these issues.