KRS 176.400: Covered wooden bridges -- Administrative control -- Title -- Maintenance.

(1) Administrative control of covered wooden bridges designated as state shrines shall

be shared by the Transportation Cabinet, the Department of Parks, the Kentucky

Heritage Council, and the authorities created under KRS 176.410.

(2) The Transportation Ca binet shall maintain all covered wooden bridges in the

Commonwealth which are on public roads and open to vehicular traffic. The cabinet

shall maintain the bridges for safety and for historical and aesthetic beauty. The

cabinet shall prepare estimates of t he cost of maintaining covered wooden bridges

which are on public roads and open to vehicular traffic and shall identify and

include the total of these estimates in its biennial budget request.

(3) The cabinet may delegate its responsibility for maintenanc e of covered bridges

located on roads maintained by a county to the local government responsible for

such roads. Delegation of responsibility for maintenance of covered bridges to a

local government shall require periodic inspection by the cabinet.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent an appropriate unit of government from closing

a covered wooden bridge to vehicular traffic.

(5) The Department of Parks shall be responsible for all covered wooden bridges

located in the Commonwealth which are on public property and no longer open to

vehicular traffic. The department shall maintain these bridges in sound structural

condition and for historical and aesthetic beauty. The department shall prepare

estimates of the cost of maintaining covered wooden bridges fo r which it has a

responsibility and shall identify and include the total of these estimates in its

biennial budget request.

(6) When an appropriation is made to a covered wooden bridge authority created under

the provisions of KRS 176.410, the Department o f Parks shall transfer the

obligation of maintenance for the bridges designated in the appropriation to that

authority.

(7) An authority may retransfer the right of possession or title and the obligation of

maintenance of covered bridges under its jurisdiction to the Department of Parks.

(8) The Heritage Division of the Kentucky Heritage Council may determine that an

authority is inactive or unable to discharge its responsibilities and may transfer the

right of title or possession to covered bridges under t he jurisdiction of the authority

to the Department of Parks. The division shall give notice of such an action to the

authority and the Department of Parks.

(9) (a) Prior to administering a project that involves the preservation, restoration, or

maintenance of a covered wooden bridge, the administering entity shall:

1. Consider all recommendations submitted pursuant to KRS 176.410 by a

covered wooden bridge authority pertaining to any bridge involved in

the project;

2. Consult with the covered wooden bridge authority dedicated to the

preservation, restoration, and maintenance of any bridge involved in the

project, if such an authority exists; and

3. Hold at least one (1) public hearing within the county in which the

bridge is located, with due notice given pu rsuant to KRS Chapter 424.

The public hearing shall be held no later than sixty (60) days prior to the

date the project is commenced or contracted, whichever is earlier.

(b) The requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not apply to any

emergency maintenance project that involves a covered wooden bridge if the

project cost is less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

(10) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection (9) of this section, any project

that involves the preservation, restoration, or maintenance of a covered wooden

bridge shall require approval by the Kentucky Heritage Council prior to the date the

project is commenced or contracted, whichever is earlier.