Judge: County to receive emergency funding to replace Dugan Lane bridge

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026 — Nelson Fiscal Court took time to recognize the hard work and volunteerism of the Nelson County Fair Board at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Several fair board members were in attendance, many of whom have been members of the fair board for many years, Hutchins noted.

The fair attendance was up this year over last, with 22,000 people visiting the fair.

STATE FUNDS DUGAN LANE BRIDGE. Hutchins announced that the Kentucky Department of Transportation has agreed to provide emergency funding to replace the closed Dugan Lane bridge.

The bridge was closed earlier this year after a state inspection found it unsafe.

The court approved agreements to allow the county to accept $680,000 in emergency funds, and to give Hutchins the power to negotiate with a construction firm to do the bridge replacement work.

In other business, Nelson Fiscal Court:

— honored Laken Blanford, who was crowned earlier this summer as Miss Kentucky Teen.

— honored Nelson County Jailer Justin Hall for earning the distinction as a certified Jail Manager.

— approved jail contracts for housing prisoners from Spencer, Washington and Mercer counties in the Nelson County Jail. The goal is to improve the jail’s cash flow for housing these area inmates.

— approved of an inter local agreement between the City of Bardstown and Nelson Fiscal Court regarding the loans from Salt River Electric to help cover the cost of the recently purchased industrial park property at the end of Pennebaker Avenue.

— the court approved a donation of $5,000 to the non-profit organization CASA of the Lincoln Trail.

NEXT UP. Nelson Fiscal Court next meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in the second floor meeting room of the Old Courthouse.

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