Chenault Bridge

The Chenault Bridge once carried State Route 34 over the Dix River and Herrington Lake, connecting Boyle and Garrard counties in Kentucky.

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History

The Chenault Bridge once carried State Route 34 over the Dix River and Herrington Lake, connecting Boyle and Garrard counties in Kentucky.

The first bridge at the site was the 165-foot-long King’s Mill Covered Bridge, completed in the mid-1870s. ⁸ It was replaced with a three-span Baltimore through truss bridge which was completed by the F.K. Ketler Company of Chicago in 1924. ¹

The Chenault Bridge was rehabilitated in 1961. ² By 1985, the Chenault Bridge had posted weight limits of 18 tons for single-axle trucks, 19 tons for dual-axle trucks, and 21 tons for triple-axle trucks. ² Despite these restrictions, overweight trucks frequently crossed the bridge, leading to structural damage, including broken stringers.

By 1986, planning was underway for a new bridge over Herrington Lake and a more direct route between Danville and U.S. Route 27. ⁴ A preliminary design was completed in November, and construction was scheduled to begin by April 1988. The $8.5 million project, with funding derived from federal primary road funds and state bridge replacement programs, called for a 630-foot-long welded steel plate girder bridge, located about one mile downstream and north of the Chenault Bridge. The new structure would rise 95 feet above the lake during winter and 70 feet during summer, following the alignment of a former covered bridge near the old Kings Mill. The project also included the construction of three miles of new roadway.

The Chenault Bridge was retained for local traffic, with the state responsible for maintaining the structure and the counties in charge of maintaining the approach roads. ⁴

In April 1992, the bridge underwent extensive repairs after temporary patches to the deck caused damage to vehicles. ⁶ In response to individuals bringing claims against the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for damage to their vehicles, the state Board of Claims ruled that KYTC was negligent and harshly critized officials for not properly maintaining the bridge, and for failing to warn motorists about its condition. ⁷

The new Chenault Bridge opened on November 6, while the original 1924 bridge continued to carry local traffic. ⁵ In 1995, the 1924 structure underwent extensive renovation, including a new bridge deck, at a cost of $268,130. ⁹

The 1924 bridge remained in service until it was closed on September 30, 2015, due to deterioration of the deck. ³

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In Popular Culture

The 1924 Chenault Bridge was featured in the British fantasy-drama film Lawn Dogs. ¹⁰ It was closed to traffic on September 13, 1996, to accommodate filming.

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Gallery

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Details

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Sources

1. Bridge plaque.
2. “State Officials Says Overweight Trucks Damaging Bridge.” Central Record, 18 Apr. 1985, p. 12.
3. “Chenault Bridge closed by state over deck issues.” Advocate Messenger, 1 Oct. 2015, p. A1.
4. Brock, Herb. “Planning for new Ky. 34 bridge over Herrington Lake in full swing.” Advocate-Messenger, 16 Nov. 1986. pp. 1-8.
5. “Ky. 34 bridge opening.” Advocate-Messenger, 6 Nov. 1992, p. A1.
6. Brock, Herb. “Crews are repairing Chenault Bridge.” Advocate-Messenger, 14 Apr. 1992, pp. A1-A8.
7. Brock, Herb. “Board finds state negligent in maintaining Chenault Bridge.” Advocate-Messenger, 17 May 1992, pp. A1-A10.
8. “King’s Mill Needs To Be The Name.” Central Record, 12 Mar. 1992, p. 2.
9. “Chenault Bridge to close for repairs.” Advocate-Messenger, 5 Feb. 1995, p. A3.
10. “Chenault Bridge to be shut Friday.” Advocate-Messenger, 11 Sept. 1996, p. A3.