Within the past seven years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has restored six of the 12 remaining covered bridges, and a seventh (Goddard Covered Bridge) is currently under construction, using the traditional process for project delivery: Design-Big-Build.

Each of the six completed projects was unique and presented its own set of challenges, according to Marc Williams, Commissioner of Highways.

However, he noted, these projects did have several common undesirable characteristics and each required significant change orders that resulted in cost overruns. In addition, he said, each project took considerably longer to complete than originally planned with very little of the original material salvaged during the restorations.

Williams said that KYTC plans to apply lessons learned from previous covered bridge restorations to the remaining five covered bridge projects, and will rely on the goals outlined in the "Burlington Charter for the Preservation of Historic Covered Bridges" as a standard for Kentucky's Covered Bridge Preservation Program.

The first goal of the charter, "to preserve the historic structural and material integrity of covered bridges to the maximum extent possible, consistent with public safety", will be heavily weighted in the selection of future winning bids.

In November, KYTC solicited "letters of interest" for design/build teams for the Cabin Creek Covered Bridge Project in Lewis County and the Johnson Creek Bridge in Robertson County. Each "team" is to consist of at least one qualified timber frame bridge designer and one qualified timber frame bridge builder (bridgewright).

The Cabin Creek Bridge is located neat Ky. Rt. 984 in northwestern Lewis County. This bridge is a multiple "King Post" design, where each truss is augmented with a laminated "Burr Arch".

The bridge is framed by two 114-foot by 14-foot nine-inch trusses containing 14 panels that are approximately eight feet in length. 

The bottom chords contain two 6x8s and one 9x8. The top chord contains two 5x6s and one 5x9. Posts are double 6x7s and braces are double 6x6s. Tie beams are 4x8. Roof rafters are 2x4 in size, spaced approximately two feet on center.

A Transportation Cabinet memorandum notes that the Cabin Creek Bridge is in poor condition and should be considered a "major rehabilitation", and that dry stone abutment restoration will not be considered part of this project.

Lewis County historian Dr. William Talley notes that the Cabin Creek Bridge was built in 1875 by William Henderson, who also built his home across from the bridge.

Dr. Talley recalls driving across the bridge until it was closed to vehicle traffic sometime in the 1970s.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled a public meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, at the Tollesboro Fire Department. Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Buffalo Trace Covered Bridge Authority and Kentucky Heritage Council will be on hand to hear public input on the restoration project.

At the November Kentucky Agricultural Development Board meeting, the Board approved one million dollars in state funds in support of the 2006 Agri-tourism Competitive Awards Program.

The 2006 Agri-tourism Competitive Awards Program was designed to assist producers as they venture into Kentucky's emerging agri-tourism industry. 

In the competitive awards program the Board set aside one million ($500,000 in each of two rounds awarded) in state funds for the development of agri-tourism businesses and for the promotion of agri-tourism by regional agri-tourism organizations

The deadline for round one of the competitive awards program is February 1, 2006 and the deadline for round two is August 1, 2006. Eligible applicants are producers engaging in an on-farm agri-tourism business, or any regional agri-tourism organization engaging in marketing and promotion for agri-tourism businesses in multiple counties. Additionally, the applicant shall not have received Agri-tourism Award funds through last year's Agri-tourism Awards Program.

Unemployment rates rose in 114 Kentucky counties between October 2004 and October 2005, fell in five counties and stayed the same in one county, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training in the Education Cabinet. 

In October 2005, two counties had a jobless rate at or above 10 percent compared to one county that recorded double-digit rates in October 2004. 

Woodford County's 3.7 percent jobless rate was the lowest in the commonwealth. Other low rates were recorded in Jessamine and Scott counties, 4.1 percent each; Anderson, Fayette, Franklin, Madison and Oldham counties, 4.2 percent each; Warren County, 4.4 percent; and Calloway and Webster counties, 4.5 percent each. 

Christian County recorded the state's highest unemployment rate at 12.7 percent. 

It was followed by Magoffin County, 10.5 percent; Muhlenberg County, 9.6 percent; Elliott County, 8.6 percent; Wolfe County, 8.4 percent; Clay, Leslie, Lewis and Rockcastle counties, 8.2 percent each; and Morgan County, 8.1 percent. 

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. 

The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted to allow for comparisons between United States, state and counties figures. Learn more about the Office of Employment and Training at www.workforce.ky.gov.