Crittenden County Fiscal Court has been provided 35-thousand dollars in Emergency Road Aid Funds from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to assist with replacement of a damaged culvert on Hurricane Church Road.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd says the culvert carries an unnamed tributary of Caney Fork Creek under Hurricane Church Road about 4/10ths of a mile south of KY 135 near the Hurricane Church Campground.
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom says in a release the emergency assistance will help soften what would have been a major blow to the county road fund.
According to Todd, the ailing culvert has caused a drop in the driving surface at the site of Hurricane Church Road. He indicates the county has delayed the start of repairs until after the annual Hurricane Camp Meeting which attracts hundreds of visitors to the 128 year old weeklong church event.
Judge Newcom notes the culvert replacement will require equipment larger than the Crittenden County road crew has available. He says they plan to discuss the repair work at their June 16th fiscal court meeting and hopefully put it out to area contractors for bid. He went on to say the bottom has rusted out of the existing corrugated metal culvert. Through conversations with local residents, Judge Newcom says he’s confident the existing culvert has been in service for 50 years or more.
Newcom is optimistic that the county could have a contractor ready to start work in late-June or sometime in July, according to the release. Hurricane Church Road will likely have to be closed for several days during the installation process. Once the work is scheduled, a start date will be announced to the public.