While work on a new bridge along KY 219 in Wallins will be completed in the coming weeks, there are several others around the county that are scheduled to be replaced in the coming years.

The state’s recently approved six-year road plan includes replacing six Harlan County bridges with new structures.

“A couple of years ago, when a bridge fell in Minnesota, it created shockwaves through all of the states, and Kentucky had to take a look at its bridges and see what position they were in,” said Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop.

Grieshop added that he is pleased the bridge in Wallins is receiving attention.

“There was a stretch on the bridge on KY 219 that was sagging because of the weight of coal trucks,” Grieshop said. “We need these bridges to be able to sustain the heavy loads from those trucks. Harlan County is in a particularly unusual position because we are in a high mountainous part of state, and have a lot of rivers and streams, and because of this we have a lot of bridges.”

Grieshop said improved roads and bridges are vital to the future economy of Harlan County.

“Everywhere that we see growth, the infrastructure includes roads and bridges being improved,” he said.

Harlan County projects included in Kentucky’s 2008 highway plan, as approved by the 2009 General Assembly, as well as their total cost and scheduled date of construction are:

-- A bridge replacement and approaches on CR-1123 over the Clover Fork of the Cumberland River, scheduled to begin construction in 2011 with a total estimated cost of $1,760,000;

-- A bridge replacement and approaches on KY 3459 over Martins Fork of the Cumberland River 0.1 mile west of the junction of U.S. 421 near Dressen, scheduled to begin construction in 2014 with a total estimated cost of $1,120,000;

-- Reconstruction of the low water bridge over Poor Fork of the Cumberland River on CR 1336 just south of the junction of U.S. 119 northeast of Harlan, scheduled to begin construction in 2009 at a total estimated cost of $500,000;

-- Replace a bridge over the Cumberland River 0.1 mile north of the junction of KY 840, scheduled for construction in 2009 at an estimated total cost of $1,330,000;

-- Replace a bridge over Salt Trace Branch one mile west of the junction of KY 221, scheduled to begin construction in 2009 at a total estimated cost of $460,000;

-- Replace a bridge and approaches on CR-5125 over Clover Fork of the Cumberland River, scheduled to begin construction in 2011 at a total estimated cost of $1,270,000;

-- Make various spot improvements on KY 119 and provide sufficient passing bay lanes to improve traffic flow, scheduled to begin construction in 2009 at a total estimated cost of $3,000,000;

-- Kingdom Come State Park access road, scheduled to begin construction in 2011 at a total estimated cost of $3,500,000;

-- Harlan to the Virginia line - rescope U.S. 421 from Barn Branch to the Virginia line.