Donovan Estridge, Madison Courier Staff Writer
Kentucky doesn't have the money to replace the Madison-Milton bridge, and Indiana officials "have no idea when they will get the funds," Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Karl Browning said Wednesday in Madison.
"Simply put, they (Kentucky) don't have the capital to do it," Browning said.
Browning and other INDOT officials attended an informational meeting at the request of Jefferson County Commissioner Gregg Sinders.
Kentucky is responsible for paying for most of the project, which could cost $500 million.
Indiana officials say the money for Indiana's share of the project is ready.
Browning said Kentucky is in the process of trying to build four bridges across the Ohio River but doesn't have money for any of them.
"None of the bridges are funded right now," Browning said. "They don't have the money to build any bridges."
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Commissioner Marc Williams, contacted by telephone, confirmed the state's budget constraints.
"The challenge we face is that there is not sufficient funding to meet all of the needs that exist throughout Indiana, Kentucky and the entire U.S," Williams said.
Complicating the matter, according to Williams, is that the federal government expects to run out of highway funds.
"The federal highway trust fund is projected to be bankrupt in three years," Williams said. "(It) is hindering the ability of states to rely upon Federal Highway Administration funds to provide meaningful support for these types of projects."
Browning's news caused Madison Mayor Al Huntington to start searching for other ways to get the bridge project started.
"I'm really concerned," Huntington said. "I think we are looking at a trip to Washington soon to see what we can do to draw their attention to this matter."
Huntington might get the same answers in Washington, according to Andrew Hillman, an aide for U.S. Rep. Baron Hill. Hillman specializes in transportation matters in Hill's district.
"There are serious concerns in the highway trust funds," Hillman said. "Indiana's unique because of the Major Moves money that funds highway projects. States all over, though, are facing budget problems because there are maintenance projects going on at the same time."
Hillman said the possibility of a bankrupted highway fund might be premature, but he said the fund's balance is a concern.
What might make the Madison-Milton bridge a tough item to sell in Washington or Frankfort, Ky., is that it is competing against Ohio River crossings in higher traffic areas such as Louisville and Cincinnati.
Huntington said "it's always back in my mind" that Madison could get overlooked, "but they have done a really good job over there in Kentucky selling the bridge."
Huntington credited the work of Trimble County Judge-Executive Randy Stevens and former Judge-Executive Jack Couch for leading a grassroots effort to promote the need to replace the bridge.
One aspect of the bridge project is underway. Kentucky has hired Wilbur Smith Associates to do environmental and routing studies.
"Kentucky has been very proactive," said Bob Williams, director of INDOT's Seymour District. "We just don't have a construction date yet."
INDOT said the Madison-Milton bridge, built in 1929, is still structurally sound. It is inspected annually and received passing marks on its last inspection, INDOT said.
Huntington is worried that the bridge could deteriorate, eventually causing traffic to be prohibited from using it.
"If traffic (18-wheel tractor-trailers) is restricted or the bridge is closed, we are out of business," Huntington said. "If it gets shut down, it will bring us to our knees."
INDOT officials said they will keep an open dialogue with Kentucky and the city about the bridge project.