Russell County Awarded Up to $700,000 For Bridge Replacement

Russell County has been awarded up to $700,000 through the Kansas Department of Transportation's Local Bridge Improvement Program to replace a bridge over a tributary to the Smoky Hill River near Gorham.

The bridge is located approximately 7.5 miles south and 3 miles east of Gorham. The project will completely replace the existing structure.

Under the award, KDOT will provide 95% of eligible construction and construction-engineering costs, with Russell County providing a 5% local match, up to the State's maximum participation of $700,000. The grant represents a significant outside investment in Russell County's transportation infrastructure and allows the County to address a bridge replacement while substantially reducing the amount that would otherwise need to be funded locally.

“With 204 bridges across Russell County, finding outside funding to help replace aging infrastructure is incredibly important. A 95-percent state contribution allows us to make a significant improvement while protecting local taxpayer dollars for the many other roads and bridges we are responsible for maintaining,” said Russell County Road and Bridge Department Director Justin Mermis.

Penco Engineering, Russell County's engineering firm, prepared and submitted the successful grant application on the county's behalf as part of its ongoing work to identify outside funding opportunities for county infrastructure.

The project is currently scheduled for 2028. To remain eligible for reimbursement, Russell County must have the project under contract for construction before June 2, 2028.

The Russell County Road and Bridge Department will work with KDOT, Penco Engineering and project partners as design and construction planning move forward.