Gov. Andy Beshear visited Northern Kentucky Wednesday to announce the allocation of state funds to five Northern Kentucky counties, including Kenton and Campbell.
Kenton County received $4.2 million for a project that coincides with the Brent Spence companion bridge project. The county also received donated land from the state to store emergency vehicles. Four Campbell County cities — Alexandria, Bellevue, Southgate, and California — also received checks for various projects and programs.
A $4.2 million project to put up transparent noise barriers in the Brent Spence Bridge corridor in Covington was announced—something Beshear said was a first of its kind in Kentucky. The barriers are expected to block out traffic noise without disrupting the view.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will install the barriers along 1,000 feet of the east side of Crescent Avenue between 5th and 9th streets in Covington.
“This is going to be a special, interesting project where we try to get the best of all worlds to address the concerns of our citizens but also make sure we are always putting our best foot forward, showing off the very best of what Northern Kentucky has to offer,” Beshear said. “Mitigating the concerns of citizens that will face disruption while this project is going is one of our key steps, and you will continue to see us listen.”
Kenton County also received donated land on Madison Pike in Covington from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the size of three football fields for its Emergency Management department. The department plans to store emergency response assets in one location.
“Currently, we have equipment that’s spread out all over Kenton County, geographically different firehouses in our public works locations, and other things,” Kenton County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director Steve Hensley said. “Not the most efficient model.”
The Alexandria Police Department in Campbell County received just over $28,000 from the state’s law enforcement protection program funds, which helps police departments purchase and upgrade equipment.
Bellevue received two checks from the state for two projects. The first was $25,000 for the city to expand and renovate O’Fallon Park.
“In Bellevue, we’re trying to make our city the most family-friendly place there is, and this is one more step that’s going to get closer to that,” Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves said.
Just over $15,000 was also given to Bellevue from the state’s law enforcement protection program funds.
The city of Southgate received $25,000 to replace tennis courts with a small park. Southgate Mayor Jim Hamburg said the city hopes to get that in before spring.
The last Campbell County city to receive funding was California, which received $25,000 for new playground equipment. California Mayor Emma Neises, who has been on the council for 60 years, accepted the check and said the grant was the first the city has ever received.
