The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced that the city of Russellville will receive $125,000 in Municipal Road Aid emergency funds. This money will be used by the city to replace a box culvert and install a portion of curb/sidewalk on West Ninth Street.

The road serves several residences in Russellville and the repairs will make it safer for the traveling public, especially during heavy rain events.

“This project is an example of the cabinet’s commitment to provide a solid infrastructure in the City of Russellville and across the Commonwealth,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock.

Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton said there has been issues with flooding in this area of Ninth Street for some time, however, it was made much worse when the state came in and paved the street curb to curb. This not only created a safety issue for drivers with pooling rains, but also several complaints from residents came in whose yards and basements were flooding due to the poor run-off on the street.

About this time last year Stratton and others went to Frankfort to the governor’s office and stopped by the transportation department as well. They were asking for help with two projects important to the city and its citizens One project was the repairing of five streets that were deemed a safety hazard for school buses and the other the water drainage project on West Ninth.

Stratton said the city received $40 for the street project right off. He had to write a letter to push along the funds for the water drainage project and ask Representative Martha Jane King to get involved.

“I can’t thank Martha Jane King enough,” said Stratton, feeling King really went to bat for the city and was instrumental in obtaining the funding. “She hounded the governor’s office and the transportation department. She really worked hard for us,” added Stratton.

Once the city gets the check, they will begin some engineering work on the street.

“I think we will have plenty of money to do this project,” said Stratton, adding what ever funds are left over we will have to send back.

“I am tickled about he funds and being able to complete this project. It is one of those things that we have had problems with for awhile, but once the state started working they made it worse. I commend them for manning up and helping up with this project. If it were not for the state we wouldn’t be able to have fixed this,” added Stratton.

The City of Russellville is responsible for administering the work.