THEN THERE WERE 4

Officials announced Tuesday morning that four alternatives have been chosen for the project to replace the Milton-Madison Bridge, narrowing the field from 14 original alternatives presented in the fall to residents of the Kentucky and Indiana communities separated by the Ohio River.

In a news release, officials stated the alternatives include replacing the superstructure on the existing piers and two new options that are hybrids of alternatives that would build a new bridge across the river. The fourth alternative, and the least likely to be approved, is to do nothing.

In the two alternatives that would replace the existing bridge, one, called the Tiber Creek alternative, would bring the approach on the Kentucky side down Milton hill to School Hollow Road and then across the Ohio. On the Indiana side, the bridge approach would connect to State Hwy. 56. It is a hybrid of Alternatives 9 and 10.

The second rebuilding alternative would bring the Kentucky approach to Canip Creek a bit farther upriver. That approach would cross State Hwy. 36 about where the Milton Wesleyan Church now stands. It is a hybrid of Alternatives 11 and 12.

Alternatives that were eliminated include several in which a new bridge would be built parallel to the existing span, bringing the Kentucky approach through downtown Milton via Ferry Street; several that would move the bridge to Jefferson Street on the Indiana side; and others that would relocate the bridge farther upriver to the Lonesome Hollow or Eagle Hollow areas on the Kentucky side.

The Jefferson Street alternatives were eliminated because the impact to Madison’s historic district would be too great and because the new approaches on the Kentucky side would be too costly.

Building a parallel structure also was nixed because of its impact on downtown Milton and its impact on three historic districts.

The Lonesome Hollow and Eagle Hollow alternatives were ruled out because both would increase travel distance between the two communities, which would not fall in with federal guidelines for the project.

“This decision reflects months of hard work and careful consideration on the part of the community,” Gary Valentine, project manager for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said in the release.

PAG meeting

yesterday in Madison

An overview of the alternatives was presented after deadline Tuesday, April 28, during the Project Advisory Group meeting at the Livery Stable in Madison.

A final recommendation on the project is expected by the end of May.

Public feedback is welcome, and officials have scheduled an open house from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at the Brown Gym, 100 S. Broadway St., Madison. For those unable to attend the open house, project officials will be available for a live, interactive forum at www.miltonmadisonbridge.com from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21.

More details on the project and the alternatives also is available on that Web site.