U.S. Transportation Dept. awards $24M grant to replace Frankfort’s Singing Bridge

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $24 million grant to replace the Singing Bridge in downtown Frankfort, according to U.S. Rep. James Comer. The bridge, which carries U.S. 60X over the Kentucky River, has been closed since 2024 and was again described in state communications as needing replacement rather than repair.

The grant is tied to the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program, and WKYT reported that it covers a large portion of the project’s projected replacement cost. The Kentucky Transportation Board is cited in the reporting as estimating the total replacement cost at about $37 million, making the federal award a central piece of the financing plan.

Kentucky officials had moved toward replacement after safety concerns led to the Singing Bridge being closed in 2024. In addition to the long-closed condition, WKYT reported that the bridge was immediately closed until further notice, referencing a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announcement posted on social media Friday morning.

Frankfort city officials previously approved measures intended to help position the project for federal and state funding. WKYT reported that local funding planning connected to multiple grant tracks, while the State Journal reported in late June that city leaders considered steps to pursue additional grant funding and the required local match.

The State Journal reported that Kentucky Transportation Cabinet asked the city to request $29.6 million on an application for a U.S. Department of Transportation Bridge Investment Program grant. That grant program structure, as described by the paper, provides 80% federal funds and a 20% local match, which would equate to $7.4 million based on the city’s request amount.

In the same reporting, the paper said the proposed local match would be built from a combination of state and city resources. It described a plan to use $6.4 million from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and $1 million from Cabinet for Economic Development GRANT state matching funds, paired with a smaller portion from city funds, as part of the approach to assemble the required match for the federal application.

The Singing Bridge replacement also has been framed by federal and state officials as a modernization effort aimed at improving safety and providing access for multiple transportation modes. WKYT reported Comer’s statement that the replacement would be used to build a safer, more modern structure and to provide safe access for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.

With the new $24 million award now in hand, the remaining steps will focus on completing the broader financing package for the estimated overall project cost, carrying out engineering and procurement through the next stages of construction, and maintaining public information on detours and access while the bridge remains closed. Local officials will also likely continue coordinating with state agencies and federal administrators as grant funding requirements and timelines move forward.