UPDATED: Barren County closes bridge for safety following high water issues

GLASGOW, Ky. – Deep in the Coles Bend area of Western Barren County, Mother Nature has stirred up some trouble.

This Bridge where Berry Store Road crosses Buck Creek held 18 tons in the past.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s recent inspection shows the bridge should only hold three tons max at the moment – the weight of an average Hummer.

Barbara Boatman has lived out in this neck of the woods for 24 years.

Boatman says, “You can’t get over it. It’s just in that bad of shape. It definitely needs to be worked on and have something done to it.”

She says taking another route is no quick task.

“It’s about a 45 minute drive easily to get around that,” she informed. “The waters really flood up over it quite a bit.”

Local authorities wasted no time to come inspect, and the proof of flooding damage in KYTC’s initial report was clear. High water has clearly shifted the bridge and put pressure on its structures.

Barren County Judge-Executive Micheal Hale said, “Folks don’t really realize what Mother Nature does to our infrastructure, and this here is a big example…. We have to keep it as strong as we can and keep it safe here, because of the farmers who are transporting things back and forth here daily.”

Barren County Road Department Supervisor Susan Gibson added, “I understand it’s an inconvenience, but at the most, it’s safety first for everyone that travels these roads.”

Hale says they face two options right now. Repair, or replace.

They plan to make a decision in the next few days after digging into the bridge’s history and communicating more with Frankfort.

News 40 will keep you updated.