The dilapidated Menefee Road Bridge in rural, southern Kenton County is getting replaced thanks to a grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The bridge, situated on Menefee Road, crosses the North Fork of Grassy Creek and provides direct access to Shady Lane. The bridge is currently in disrepair due to its age and lack of recent maintenance. Kenton County Public Works Director Spencer Stork referred to the bridge as “substandard” at a county fiscal court meeting in March 2024.
During its regularly scheduled meeting on July 8, the Kenton County Fiscal Court passed a resolution to finance the construction of a new bridge. The resolution approved a memorandum of understanding, which solidified a financing agreement for $654,691 between the Kenton County Fiscal Court and KYTC’s Department of Highways.
Kenton County Administrator Joe Shriver said the county applied for a grant through Kentucky’s County-City Bridge Improvement Program. The program, which is administered by KYTC’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid, supports counties and municipalities in maintaining, repairing and replacing locally owned bridges.
Under the agreement, KYTC agreed to reimburse Kentucky County for up to $654,691 for completion of work by either the county, contractors or subcontractors hired by the county. Kenton County, not KYTC, is responsible for conducting work on the bridge, according to the agreement.
“They consider it a ‘priority one’ project, so I would strongly suggest we adopt this and use those funds to replace that bridge,” Shriver said.
In March 2024, an agreement was adopted by the fiscal court to redesign the Menefee Road Bridge. The resolution, approved by the state, the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid, and the transportation cabinet, utilized 80/20 Bridge Funds.
80/20 Bridge Funds, also known as the Rural Secondary 80/20 Bridge Program, is a statewide funding program where the state of Kentucky provides 80% of the financing for the repair or replacement of existing drainage structures, bridges, low water fords, culverts, and pipes on county roads. The county was responsible for the remaining 20%.
The Menefee Road redesign cost Kenton County about $100,000, according to previous reporting. Under the 80/20 Bridge Funds agreement, the county was responsible for up to $80,000 of this cost and any expenses exceeding that amount.
In addition, the fiscal court hired Baltimore-based PRIME AE, an architecture, engineering and construction management firm, to design a bridge replacement.
According to Commissioner Jon Draud, Menefee Road and its namesake bridge are named after the late Chlorine Menefee, who served on the Kenton County School Board for 14 years.
