Covered Bridges

Two great resources about covered bridges in Kentucky have just been linked to from this site's covered bridge page:

• Kentucky's Covered Bridges  - Information about a book covering the topic along with photographs and information about covered bridges in the commonwealth.
• Foundation For Kentucky's Lost Covered Bridges  - Information about covered bridges in Kentucky and the role they played in the Civil War.

Work has resumed on a project to restore the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County: Maysville Ledger Independent: Goddard Bridge restoration work resumes, project is on schedule (Feb. 20, 2006) 

The Dover Covered Bridge in Mason County, which was recently restored, has been vandalized. Several names were spray painted on the interior of the bridge: Maysville Ledger Independent: Vandalism defaces historic Dover Covered Bridge (Nov. 18, 2005) 

In July, stonemasons began work to rebuild abutments for the Goddard Bridge. The covered bridge off KY 32 in Fleming County is undergoing a restoration project.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Stonemasons to converge for Goddard Bridge Project (July 14, 2005) 

Now that the future of the Goddard Bridge is more certain, the Buffalo Trace Covered Wooden Bridge Authority has shifted its focus to the region’s other covered bridge: Maysville Ledger-Independent: Covered bridge authority shifts focus beyond Goddard (June 28, 2005) 

Work will begin Thursday to repair the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County. Originally, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had planned to allow a contractor to remove the bridge and repair it offsite; however, local residents protested and the state agreed to require that all restoration work be performed onsite.

The bridge is believed to have been constructed in the 1820s, and was last restored in 1968.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Goddard Bridge renovation to begin March 10 (March 5, 2005) 

A new bridge on KY 3113 will divert traffic from the historic Dover Bridge. The new span will ease the stress from traffic crossing the covered bridge.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Road Closure Needed to Build New Bridge and Save Historic Bridge (Aug. 26, 2004) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County is under contract to be renovated; however, the renovations will not begin until public meetings can be held to discuss the project. These meetings are not likely to be held for another two months.

The bridge has been the focus of attention since plans to remove the bridge for renovation were met with anger from local residents at a public meeting in 2003. The transportation cabinet has since asked the project contractor to revise their plans so the bridge can be repaired onsite. Outrage over the plans to remove the bridge led to the enactment of new legislation governing how the state’s covered bridges are to be managed.

Historically, the area around the bridge has been home to the Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival; however, this year the festival has been forced to move because an agreement to use the land near the bridge could not be secured.

More information: (Maysville) Ledger Independent: Limelight Once Again Focuses on Goddard Bridge (June 2, 2004) 

A festival this weekend marked the 150th anniversary of Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge. The bridge is located off of KY 7 in Greenup County. The festivities were marred by vandals who spray painted the interior of the bridge and a landslide that closed part of KY 7: Ashland Daily Independent: Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge celebrates 150th anniversary (May 31, 2004) 

On May 28 through May 30, the Greenup County Tourism and Convention Commission will hold a festival at the Bennett's Mill covered bridge. The bridge is located about eight miles from South Shore along KY 7.

More information: Daily Independent: Festival to mark covered bridge's span of time (May 20, 2004) 

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky leaders continue to lobby for the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge: Kentucky Post: Bridge replacement touted as national priority (April 22, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea made for new I-75 bridge (April 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge plan calls for $15M (April 29, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Voinovich wants $15M for bridge (April 30, 2004) 

No state budget was passed, so there is no state road plan: Franklin Favorite: Area legislators predict state will have a budget (April 22, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: No budget means no road plan (April 25, 2004) 

Jim Reis recognizes the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for its work in securing money to replace the Shortway Bridge: Kentucky Post: A century of boosting business (April 26, 2004) 

Meetings on I-71 widening in Jefferson County bring a variety of opinions: Courier-Journal: Meetings on I-71 plans draw strong opinions (April 28, 2004) 

The Governor has signed a bill to expand the authority of the Buffalo Trace covered bridge authority: Maysville Ledger Independent: Denham sponsored bills signed by governor (April 28, 2004)  Public meetings must now be held before the state does any work to the area’s covered bridges.

A project to widen US 231 in Indiana from the Natcher Bridge to I-64 has begun: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Project to 4-lane U.S. 231 begins (April 29, 2004)  The first five mile segment should be complete in 2 years.

P rospect residents are worried about an intersection on US 42: Oldham Era: Prospect residents seek help with U.S. 42 intersection (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss a new I-65 connector in northern Warren County: Bowling Green Daily News: Road options for transpark shown (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet was recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for its work in protecting the Eggbert’s Sunflower: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Protects Endangered Eggert's Sunflower (May 3, 2004) 

Repairs were made to I-65 near mile marker 30 to correct a drainage problem: Bowling Green Daily News: Dangerous I-65 spot seeing changes (May 6, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Speedy repairs on interstate are appreciated (May 8, 2004) 

The new US 23 over the Ohio River at South Shore is running “woefully behind:” Ashland Daily Independent: ODOT - Bridge project 'woefully behind' (May 13, 2004)  The new U.S. Grant Bridge is scheduled to open in 2005.

For the past six years, the Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival has been held in a field near the Goddard Covered Bridge; however, the owner of the field has denied the festival permission to use the field this year. The Goddard Covered Bridge which is off of KY 32 in Fleming County is the last covered bridge in Kentucky that is still open to traffic.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival Evicted (March 18, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officially unveiled the restored Bennett's Mill covered bridge over Tygarts Creek in Greenup County near KY 7.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Restored Covered Bridge in Greenup County Unveiled to Public (Nov. 6, 2003) 

Intech Contracting has been asked to devise a new plan for restoring the Goddard covered bridge in Fleming County or quit the job. Originally, Intech had planned to disassemble the bridge and restore it at a workshop in Lancaster; however, local opposition has lead the transportation cabinet to ask Intech to complete the bridge restoration on site.

More information: Associated Press: Bridge contractor asked to cancel or come up with new plan (October 30, 2003) , Associated Press: Restorers asked to re-think Fleming Bridge (October 30, 2003) 

Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge over Tygarts Creek could be reopened by Nov. 1. The bridge, originally construction in 1850, was closed and dismantled in 2001. Under contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Intech Contracting reconstructed the bridge to historic specification and using as much of the real bridge as possible.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Under Construction (Oct. 3, 2003) , Associated Press: Covered bridge rebuilding begins (Oct. 4, 2003) 

Work to restore the Goddard White Covered Bridge near Flemingsburg will be completed on site. Originally the transportation cabinet had planned to dismantle the bridge, complete the renovation work off site, and then place the bridge back in its original location; however, out-of-state covered bridges experts who recently inspected the bridge believe it would be more economical to complete the repairs on site. This report and pressure from the public has lead the transportation cabinet to agree that that the bridge should not be dismantled.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: On-site renovation may be option (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Experts: Dismantling Goddard Bridge unnecessary for restoration (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Specialists inspect covered bridges in Buffalo Trace area (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Covered bridges celebrated in Fleming (Aug. 25, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: The people have spoken - Renovation plans altered on Goddard Bridge project (Aug. 29, 2003) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that discussion of the Goddard Covered Bridge dominate the first meeting of the newly recreated Buffalo Trace Covered Bridge Authority. The Goddard Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled for restoration following the August 23 Covered Bridge Festival. Initially the transportation cabinet had hoped to replace only 30 percent of the bridge's timbers; however, the bridge authority believes that up to 90 percent of the bridge will need to be replaced. Interim chair Steve Donovan says that the authority hopes to find a way to preserve the historical integrity of the area's covered bridges.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Covered bridge group looks past statute to set standard (Aug. 8, 2003) 

The Bennett's Mill bridge, a covered bridge which has crossed Tygarts Creek in Greenup County since the 1850s, will not be returned to the county this month. In interest of historic accuracy, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is re-evaluating the design of the bridge. New information has lead some to believe that the camber of the bridge is less than what had originally been thought.

The bridge connects East Tygarts Creek Road and KY 7. The bridge was closed to traffic by county officials in 2001 when it was noticed that the bridge was listing. The bridge was removed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and transported to Lexington for historic preservation work. Officials said the bridge needed to be removed because internal supports were deteriorating. The preservation contract specifies that the project should use as much of the original lumber as possible.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Return of bridge delayed (July 21, 2003)