Frozen Rails races and other events on New Year's Day

The Frozen Rails 5K and 10K will be held Wednesday, Jan. 1 in Midway. The $30 registration fee for events is discounted $3 until midnight Sunday, Dec. 29 with a coupon code, RUN2020. The regular fee is $30 for the 5K or 10 K; $25 for the one-mile fun run/walk (which includes a T-shirt) and $15 for the Little Rails 1K Kids Run (Each participating child will receive a medal.) Volunteers and contributors to help with the event can also sign up on the race's signup page or at race-day headquarters, Midway Christian Church, Wednesday from noon to 1:45 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Midway Ministerial Association, which provides support to local residents in need. The event will also accept donations of canned foot and other non-perishable goods for distribution through the local food pantry.

The 10K run will begin at 2 p.m. at the corner of Winter and Main streets, go out Spring Station Road and return to the starting point. The 5K run and the fun run/walk will start at 2:10 p.m. and follow part of the same route. The Little Rails 1K Kids Run will begin at 1:40 p.m. and go down and back up Turner Street.  More information about the event is here. The weather forecast for Wednesday is sunny, with a high of 48.

Leaf pickup will end the week of Jan. 6, mayor says

Leaf pickup in Midway will continue through the first week of January because not all leaves have fallen, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift announced today.

"We are still collecting leaves weekly, but will stop collecting the week of Jan. 6, so please have all leaf piles you want collected out by then," Vandegrift said.

The city asks that leaves be places in the utility strips between sidewalks and streets, not in the street where they can complicate drainage, and that branches not be included in the leaf piles.

State Transportation Cabinet confirms Weisenberger Mill bridge is scheduled to open Monday, at 8 a.m.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet photo

The state Transportation Cabinet confirmed this afternoon that the new Weisenberger Mill Bridge is scheduled to open to traffic at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 23, five months ahead of schedule. "The bridge, on Weisenberger Mill Road (CR 1015), restores a critical link over South Elkhorn Creek in Scott and Woodford counties," the cabinet's District 7 office said in a news release.

“Restoring this vital connection for motorists and emergency services who depend on the bridge daily was a priority,” said Kelly Baker, chief engineer for District 7. “We listened to the needs of the public, and worked diligently with the contractor to accelerate the opening of the new bridge.”

The old bridge was closed July 1, 2016, after a routine inspection found advanced deterioration was found in the bottom and outermost members that run parallel to the surface of the bridge. The bridge, which had been used by heavy trucks as a shortcut, had been operating under repeatedly lower weight limits, finally at only three tons.

After delays for historical and environmental studies, including citizen input, the state gave up its plans for a two-lane bridge and agreed to install a one-lane structure very much like the old one. "The newly constructed bridge fits within the context of the environment," the release said. "The goal of the project team was to closely match the features of the previous structure. The bridge is a pony truss with galvanized steel, and a concrete deck."

Louisville Paving Co. was the sole bidder on the project and began work Aug. 12. It removed the old bridge in late August and placed the new structure in late November. Crews were working on signs and other final measures today.

The bridge is a popular destination and route for tourists, runners and cyclists, since it overlooks the historic, family-owned Weisenberger Mill, which has been grinding flour in the same location since 1865 and in the same building since 1913. The traffic count on Weisenberger Mill Bridge Road in 2012 was 1,200 vehicles per day, the cabinet said.

Weisenberger Mill bridge about ready for Mon. opening

Bill Jenkins of the Woodford County Road Department walked across the new Weisenberger Mill bridge yesterday morning. The department's Tom Fortenberry said the bridge will be ready for traffic, once state contractor Louisville Paving Co. installs the ends of guardrails.

Louisville Paving posted signs at the Scott County junction of US 62 and 421 saying that the bridge will open Monday, Dec. 23, but the state Transportation Cabinet has been unwilling to guarantee that. Construction went faster than expected largely because of favorable weather, Fortenberry said.

The state is paying for the bridge under a long-ago trade with Woodford County, which is responsible for the bridge under a previous agreement with Scott County. (South Elkhorn Creek is the county line.) The Woodford County Road Department was responsible for blocking traffic and posting signs after the state closed the bridge for safety reasons on July 1, 2016.

Replacement of the bridge was delayed by historical and environmental concerns. In response to concerns by nearby residents who feared a two-lane bridge would lead to more speeding and wrecks, especially in the curve on the Woodford County side, the state contracted for a one-lane pony truss bridge much like the one built in 1935.

Winners of Woman's Club Holiday Decorating Contest

These lighted and decorated windows at 219 W. Higgins St. earned it the Best Christmas Spirit award.

The Midway Woman's Club has announced the winners of this year's Holiday Decorating Contest. Here they are, with nighttime photos and a video by the club's Amanda Glass and Genie Graf:

Special 2019 15th Anniversary MWC Holiday Décor Judging Award – 129 W. Bruen

Best Wreath – 231 Johnson St. (right)

Best Front Door – 111 Coach Station

Most Whimsical Lights – City Hall, 101 E. Main

Most Fun Decorations – 109 S. Gratz

Most Colorful Display – 318 N. Winter

Most Animated Display – 238 W. Stephens

Best Outdoor Tree – 120 E. Higgins (right)

Best Daytime Display – 332 S. Winter

Best Indoor Tree – 136 Carriage Lane

Best Spirit of Woodford Co. – 100 Carriage Ln.

Best Traditional Decorations – 217 N. Turner

Best Business – Goose & Gander, 133 E. Main

Best Decorated Porch – 238 W. Higgins

Best Decorated Yard – 225 E. Higgins

Best Decorated Shed – 219 S. Turner

Best Decorated Fence – 112 Old Towne Walk

Best Decorated Gate – 116 Coach Station

Best Overall Design – 219 Cottage Grove (below, day and night)

Newton Street to be closed at intersection with Dudley Street at 3:30 today due to flooding, cold temperatures

The outlet through Midway University is at lower right. (Google base map)

Newton Street will be closed at its intersection with Dudley Street at 3:30 today due to flooding of Lee Branch and cold temperatures, Mayor Grayson Vandegrift announced via email at 1:45 p.m.

"Because of floodplain runoff from the recent heavy rains, and the falling temperatures, a dangerous, icy condition at the bend on Newton St. where it meets Dudley has caused us to make the decision to close Newton Street at 3:30 p.m. today," Vandegrift wrote. "It will reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow, and at this time we do not expect any further trouble occurring from this."

The mayor said Newton Street residents won't be cut off; they "will be able to leave their homes by using the back entrance to Midway University," and going through the campus to East Stephens Street. "We’re thankful to Midway University for allowing our residents to exit through campus," he wrote. "Let me know if you have any questions."

State reschedules lane closure for drainage work at railroad overpass: tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Google base map

The state Transportation Cabinet has rescheduled its closure of a lane on Leestown Road at the railroad overpass 1.65 miles east of Midway for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.

The closure is necessary for shoulder work and ditching operations, presumably to resolve a drainage issue near the overpass. The work was postponed from the original date of Monday, Dec. 16, due to inclement weather. The state has posted portable signs warning of possible ice on the highway.

The lane closure will be in effect at Woodford County milepoint 16.15 of US 62, near the overpass and Davistown Road. "All work, and closures are subject to change depending on weather, emergencies, and other factors beyond the control of the Department of Highways," the cabinet's news advisory says.