Save Broadway Bridge

11/06/2023

Join the conversation. Finally, a proposed project design will be presented for public comment on November 16. Please make aplan to join this meeting and express your support for the Broadway Bridge project.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announces a public meeting to be held later this month regarding the proposed West Broadway Bridge project in Franklin County. The City of Frankfort and KYTC invite the public to consider proposals to address the closed West Broadway Bridge.

In 2020, a public meeting was held to collect feedback from the community regarding alternatives being considered for the West Broadway Bridge, which has been closed to traffic since 1993. Since the 2020 public meeting, concepts for rehabilitating the existing main truss for use as a multi-use path have been developed and will be presented at the meeting.

Other alternatives being considered include:
-Demolition of the existing bridge.
-Demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of a new multi-use bicycle/pedestrian path.

Recently, the City of Frankfort approved funding to supplement funds committed for the project by KYTC. Further input on the alternatives being considered will be collected at an in-person public meeting on Thursday, November 16, at the Paul Sawyier Public Library (319 Wapping Street, Frankfort, Ky. 40601) in the River Room. The meeting is informal, and those interested in attending may stop by anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Anyone requiring assistance with accommodations may contact David Waldner of Palmer Engineering at (859) 744-1218 or by email at [email protected].

More information: https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictFive/Pages/Broadway-Bridge-Project.aspx

06/27/2022

The Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation is releasing their Franklin Five this week and today named the Broadway Bridge one of the best opportunities in Franklin County to preserve a historic landmark! Check it out!

2022 Franklin Five: Best Opportunities to Preserve Historic Places in Franklin County

The Franklin Five is an annual list released by the Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation of the top five best opportunities to preserve historic places in our community. These historic places are ideal to preserve because of their historical and cultural significance, the current climate to support their renovation, and the value they can add to our future. Follow us this week as we release our 2022 Franklin Five.

Broadway Bridge: The Broadway Bridge has been an advocacy project of the Trust for years. Built in 1893, the same year as the beloved Singing Bridge, the Broadway Bridge (also known as the Blue Bridge) was built to span the river to rail traffic as well as horse and buggy as well as pedestrians and is today one of the few remaining examples of this style. It was bypassed in 1929 by the adjacent larger train bridge, and though they are separate structures, they adjoin and share one pier. The Broadway bridge continued to serve as a vehicular and pedestrian crossing until it was closed to vehicular traffic in 1991 with the completion of the pair of arched bridges spanning the river. It remained open as a river trail crossing for pedestrians for several years until closed due to concerns about its condition.

A renovated bridge will be a safe crossing for both downtown residents and those residents of Buttimer Hill, Bellepoint and beyond. Additionally, if renovated it will become a linear park addition to the existing Riverview Park, opening up access to the Benson Valley and creating an attractive historic amenity in our downtown that can host events, tourism, and be a community asset. Certainly, there are many added values to our community to preserving and renovating the historic Broadway Bridge.

In 2019 the Trust began an initiative to study the bridge which brought in a consultant at the beginning of 2020 to evaluate alternatives for preservation of this Bridge. Thanks in part to our work, the Kentucky Department of Transportation is now undertaking a Section 106 review with local stakeholders and developing a project to ensure crossing at this point of the river with an $3.5 million allocation in the state’s 2022-2023 budget. We hope that this “new” project will retain as much of the historic structure as possible to preserve this iconic historic bridge as a community asset for our future. We’ll continue to advocate for the bridge’s preservation and for new ways to reuse our community’s historic resources to better our collective future.

03/06/2021

Historic Bridges can be repaired and maintained indefinitely. The Broadway Bridge’s sister, both constructed in 1893, will soon recieve repairs to be reopened with a larger 9 ton weight limit.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced repair and reinforcement work will begin on the Singing Bridge next week.

03/05/2021

Voice your support to SAVE the Broadway Bridge in this weeks newspaper poll. Once rehabilitated, it will become a destination and another wonderful amenity for Frankfort!

https://www.state-journal.com/what-is-your-preference-for-the-broadway-bridge/poll_ea17b86c-79e5-11eb-acf9-dbdb6becc038.html

02/22/2021

The fate of Frankfort's historic Broadway Bridge may be decided at Monday's Feb 22, City Commission meeting. Please contact your City Commissioners now and tell them to save this landmark before it's too late!

There are those that dismiss the value of the historic bridge. But independent study has shown the bridge can be rehabilitated for less than current estimates and add tremendous value to our downtown. Not simply a way to connect, the bridge provides opportunity to become an attraction for Frankfort. For proof, look to Chattanooga and the renovation of the Walnut Street Bridge that spurred a renaissance of their downtown.

https://tennesseerivervalleygeotourism.org/entries/walnut-street-bridge-chattanooga-tenn/74f80b90-df4b-41d3-88d3-dfe30cf85b66

Contact the Frankfort City Commission today!

Call 875-8500 to leave a message

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

or email your comments to be read at the commission meeting to: [email protected]

10/29/2020

Frankfort, You can be a "Consulting Party" to demand the Broadway Bridge be preserved. This is a Federally mandated process that required alternatives explored to the proposed demolition of the historic bridge. Please sign up before it's too late! https://transportation.ky.gov/EnvironmentalAnalysis/Pages/consultingPartyRequest.aspx?ProjectID=05-0805.00

10/27/2020

Join the review meeting tonight to decide the future of the historic Broadway Bridge.

Register for the Virtual Public Meeting Tonight!

October 27, 2020 at 6:30 PM

The purpose of this Virtual Public Meeting is to provide the public with an overview of the project and an opportunity to provide comments that can be considered during further project development. Registration is required. Register here:

Attendees of the Public Informational Meeting will have the opportunity to view a brief overview of the project and provide comments that can be considered during further project development. Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be participating and available to answer quest...

10/22/2020

Frankfort, now is our chance to save the Broadway Bridge as an amenity to our town. Because the Kentucky River is a federal owned waterway, a mandated public process must be completed to take input and provide alternatives to demolition. Please sign up now to join the conversation and demand the bridge be preserved. This can't be lost when there is an alternative, Frankfort has lost enough!

Join the digital public meeting on Oct 27, sign up here: https://transportation.ky.gov/Districtfive/pages/broadway-bridge-project.aspx

10/16/2020

Frankfort. Here is our chance to save the old Broadway Bridge. Sign up to be a consulting party to participate in the digital public meeting at: http://transportation.ky.gov/Districtfive/pages/broadway-bridge-project.aspx
Public comments may be submitted until Nov 10. You may request paper copies of the meeting materials by contacting David Waldner at 859-744-1218 or by email at [email protected]. Anyone with a disability who requires assistance should also contact the above by Oct 19 or if you are unable to join contact David by October 26 for alternatives.

Two alternatives to address the bridges saftey concerns have been identified:
Demolish the bridge -or-
Rehabilitate the bridge and convert it to a multi-use path.

Lets work together to save this icon of our community and create an amenity tjat will benefit our town.

10/16/2020

Please join the meeting and save our historic landmark.

A virtual public meeting will be held on the proposed W. Broadway Bridge project in Franklin Co on Oct. 27 on the Zoom platform. The purpose of the project is to implement a long-term solution to the deteriorating conditions of the Broadway Bridge in downtown Frankfort. Register to attend here: http://ow.ly/18UG50BToyQ.

10/07/2020

Frankfort, here’s our last chance to save the historic Broadway Bridge. Sign up at the link below to become a consulting party and have you voice heard to save this Frankfort icon. The time is short, sign up now!
https://transportation.ky.gov/EnvironmentalAnalysis/Pages/consultingPartyRequest.aspx?ProjectID=05-0805.00

Section 106: The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires the Federal Highway Administration and state departments of transportation to take into account how a project may affect properties listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places, commonly referred to as section 106 review. The Act outlines the process involved in identifying and assessing the project’s effects on historic properties.

A consulting party may:
• Identify historic properties that may be affected, including the bridge or properties near it
• Provide input about impacts the project may have
• Assist in the development of appropriate mitigation measures to resolve any adverse effects, if they exist.

Section 106 consulting parties may include historical societies, preservation societies, local governments, landowners and other residents who have a vested interested in the project or concerned about the project’s impact on historic properties