By Carrie Pond
Canton, KY – About 150 people attended the third in a series of public meetings over the design of two new bridges over Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Most of the meeting focused on budget issues, but Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Public Information Officer Keith Todd says many citizens also expressed interest in a signature bridge that makes a statement for the lakes area. Todd says officials may reconsider some designs that were fairly popular with the public, but were dropped when the list was narrowed to four. Bridge Design Consultant J-B Williams reminded people that in the current tight budget situation, the bridge's cost is a top priority. One possible cost cut is to reduce the bridges' width by about 28 feet, which still leaves sufficient space for planned walking and biking paths. Todd says despite the continued planning process, bridge construction is still on target to begin in 2011. The new structures will replace the seventy-five year Eggner's Ferry Bridge in Aurora and the Lawrence Memorial Bridge in Canton.