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The Jackson Street Bridge has long stood in Winchester. 

However, after a sinkhole appeared in the fall, it became clearer than ever that the already existing repair plans needed to be updated and completed. 

Fortunately, good news has arrived.

A $500,000 grant was approved for work on the Jackson Street Bridge removal.

“We…heard…that we are being granted the $500,000 from the state for the Jackson Street bridge removal,” said Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed at February 18th’s City Commission meeting. “Of all the awards that were made, we were the only city in the state of Kentucky that received a bridge award. The rest were counties. I’m happy and proud for us.” 

The grant comes through Governor Andy Beshear’s County and City Bridge Replacement Program, with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid being thanked as well. 

State representative Ryan Dotson and senator Greg Elkins advocated throughout the process. 

“The city and the legislature have been working on it…I was very happy to be supportive,” said Elkins.

On a Facebook post from February 6 via the “City of Winchester, KY Community Information” page, Mayor Reed was quoted further elaborating on the following steps. 

“The monies will be utilized to remove the Jackson Street Bridge that is currently in disrepair and has required closing of the roadway to ensure vehicle and pedestrian safety of our community. Once this project is completed, the roadway will be reopened in this highly traveled corridor”, she said. 

Whitney Leggett, who serves as Strategic Communications and Downtown Development Director for the City of Winchester, offered her thoughts. 

“What I do [hear] is that people are eager to go ahead and get the work going on the project,” said Whitney Leggett, who expressed excitement as someone having grown up in Winchester. “It’s exciting to see that the city is actively applying for grants…we want infrastructure, so I know they’re really proactive in that.” 

According to the bridge inspection report from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, a number of issues were evident, including frequent spalling. 

Spalling, in which fragments of materials are broken off of a large solid body, occurs when water enters brick, concrete or natural stone. 

As a result, the surface begins to break, peel, flake off, or chip away. 

In the long term, this can lead to weakened structural integrity and pose other potential threats. 

Pipelines near the bridge, which include 6-inch and 14-inch insertion valves, will be dealt with also. 

“[Six-inch] and [14-inch] valves will be inserted at each end of the bridge to isolate it for construction. Everything will be operating as usual as to not affect any businesses or residents,” said Jesse McCoy, a hybrid inspector for the City of Winchester. “Once the work is commencing the lines will be reinstalled underground instead [of] being attached as they are now. Not only are we trying to make it safer, we are trying to prevent future water line breaks.” 

Once started, McCoy has high hopes for a quick construction process. 

“We’re hoping that it really only takes a few months,” he said. “They’re actually hoping to start digging…this week.”