By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

MILTON, Ky. — The small river town of Milton is just that – small, at only 1.2 square miles and a little more than 500 residences, according to the U.S. census. But it is large in stature historically, being one of the oldest towns in Kentucky.

Milton was founded in 1789, three years before statehood and long before any thoughts of automobiles were around. Today, the Trimble County town is making transportation with news of a new bridge replacement project, that should improve the only link to Indiana within 40 miles.

Across the Ohio River is Madison, Ind. It is much larger than its Kentucky neighbor, with more than 12,000 residences, and it also is just as seeded in history since most of the downtown area is designated as one of the largest National Historic Landmarks in the country.

Recently, state and national officials broke ground on the Milton-Madison bridge replacement project. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood, along with Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.), Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Kentucky Gov. Steven Beshear and a host of others, gathered for the ceremony.

The bridge will replace the 80-plus-year-old structure that serves as the major transportation link by way of U.S. Highway 421 between the two states.
“A bridge, by definition, transcends an obstacle that would otherwise divide people, communities – even entire states,” Beshear said at the groundbreaking.
“It was a great day 81 years ago when the current Milton-Madison Bridge was opened, and the obstacle of a great river was overcome. This is another great day, as we break ground for a new bridge that will serve both our states for generations to come.”

The $103 million bid came from Walsh Construction Co., of La Porte, Ind., which was $28 million below the original estimate, thanks to a construction technique that will require closure of the bridge for only 10 days in all, according to information from Beshear’s office.

Federal Recovery Act funds are kicking in a $20 million grant for the project.
LaHood said the new Milton-Madison bridge will restore full service on a critical link between Kentucky and Indiana, improving the quality of life for area residents.

The current bridge was built in 1929 and will soon be beyond the stage of regular repair. The DOT reported that more than 10,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, and “if the bridge were to be taken out of service, residents on both sides of the river would suffer tremendous hardship, including increased commuting costs as the result of detours.”

Those commuting costs just went up, as gas prices have crossed the $3 per-gallon threshold again and are expected to go even higher.

For the last 60 years, perhaps the biggest event in the area has been the Madison Regatta, a large hydroplane boat race that brings in more than 70,000 fans. But for the last 200 years, the area has been an agricultural hub in what largely remains a rural region.

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez touted the use of Recovery Funds as being crucial in projects like this.

“Replacing this bridge has been a top priority. Recovery Act funds will help us tackle transportation challenges that are unique and require dedicated attention,” he said. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is helping provide a new and improved bridge to connect rural communities in the two states, which is vital to the region’s economy.”

Daniels praised the project for coming in under budget, ahead of schedule and interfering with traffic only for a short period.

“This is a project the community has been seeking for decades and I’m really proud of both states for providing not just a way to get it done, but in such an ingenious way,” he said. “It will be done years ahead of schedule and less expensively than previously thought.

“And the best thing for the towns on both sides of the river is that traffic will be disrupted for less than two weeks, rather than a year.”

In addition to vehicle traffic, the new bridge will provide pedestrian and bicycle access. A tentative completion date in September 2012 is expected.