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Friday January 23, 2026
Local Connection
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently awarded a contract for rehabilitation of the Bernheim Bridge in Cherokee Park in Louisville. This bridge, also known as Bridge No. 8, crosses the Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek.
This project includes waterproofing and repairing the concrete arch, resetting the railings, masonry repairs on the spandrel walls and railings and new asphalt pavement on the crossing.
KYTC is coordinating the bridge repairs with Louisville Parks and Recreation and Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Construction is scheduled to begin this week. The bridge crossing via Beargrass Road from Park Boundary Road and Alta Vista Road will be inaccessible through the duration of the project. The Bernheim Bridge will reopen to traffic in late summer.
Several popular nearby park features, including Big Rock pavilion, parking and playground area, will be easily accessible during the construction period. A detour map can be viewed below.
Louisville Paving Company was awarded the $1.1 million construction contract. Marr Construction will be the subcontractor for the masonry rehabilitation of the historic bridge. Marr has worked on several other bridge restoration projects in Cherokee Park.
The Bernheim Bridge dates to 1928 and was named for Bernhard and Rosa Bernheim, who were members of the notable Bernheim family that includes Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, who founded the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest south of Louisville.
Another bridge in Cherokee Park on the Scenic Loop is scheduled for repairs later this year. These bridges are part of KYTC’s Bridging Kentucky program. Bridging Kentucky includes more than 1,000 state, county, and municipal structures that are rated in poor condition or have restricted weight limits. More than 70 of the bridges on the list are currently closed to traffic.
Each bridge will be addressed in the next six years, either replaced with a new structure designed to last at least 75 years or rehabilitated to extend its life by at least 30 years. Those with restricted weight limits will reopen to school buses, emergency vehicles, commercial trucks, as well as passenger vehicles.
The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Traffic information for the District 5 counties is also available at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5 and twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5.
Prompted by concerns over temporary housing in residential areas, President David James (D-6) is calling for a review of the Land Development Code to see if additional standards need to be considered for approval.
“There have been several instances where temporary housing has created issues dealing with nuisances and many are questioning the compatibility of some forms of this type of usage in residential areas and neighborhoods,” said James.
The President announced the filing of the Resolution during a news conference on Monday where he was joined by the members of the Recovery Housing Task Force.
“The Recovery Housing Task Force is a group of concerned citizens who meet with the Department of Public Health and Wellness. We took our concerns to President James. Transitional housing recovery housing boarding housing etc. has been a problem that has plagued our community for years,” Kimberly Moore of the Task Force. “We are here today because we want to address the problem. There have been numerous complaints from concerned citizens regarding issues within their community and there is ongoing predatory behavior.”
The Resolution defines the many forms of temporary housing as: Transitional Housing, Boarding and Lodging Houses, Homeless Shelters, Rehabilitation Houses and Residential Care Facilities (collectively referred to as “Temporary Housing”).
Several forms of temporary housing are allowed as conditional uses or as permitted use with special standards within certain designated zoning districts.
The President said the Resolution asks Louisville Metro Planning and Design Services to review the Land Development Code regarding temporary housing in residential zoning districts to consider adoption of additional standards to improve the compatibility of these uses within residential areas. It asks for recommendations that will aid in the enforcement of the regulations to ensure compliance.
“I think this kind of review is long overdue considering the various types of temporary housing we have seen over the last several years,” says James. “I am seeking the support of my colleagues to move this forward.”
“We are not here today to put anyone out of business or displace individuals, but we are here to tell you that if you are not willing to treat people with respect, compassion and dignity we do NOT want you operating in Metro Louisville,” said Moore. “There will be actions taken if you are operating without proper permits. We are grateful that the County Attorney’s office have become willing to address this problem with us. We look forward to finding solutions to this problem.”
The Resolution will be assigned to the Metro Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee.
Here is a link to the proposed Resolution:
https://louisvilleky.gov/sites/default/files/metro_council/members/6/pdf…
Councilwoman Donna Purvis reminds residents that the new District 5 satellite office will officially open tomorrow, Tuesday February 5th.
“I am looking forward to hearing from the people of District 5 with any issues or concerns they may have with Metro Government,” says the Councilwoman.
The District 5 Satellite Office is located in the Kroger at 520 North 35th Street. Hours will be from 9:00am to 12:00pm on the 5th and 19th of each month. Councilwoman Purvis will be there personally to address concerns and meet constituents.
“This is a very informal setting and anyone who feels they need to talk with me on anything should stop by or just come by to say hello. It is important that I know what’s on your mind,” says Purvis.
For more information, Contact Councilwoman Purvis’ Office at 574-1105.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness is offering free radon test kits while the supply lasts. You can request a kit by visitng this link or by calling 574-6650.
Radon is a gas that you cannot smell, taste or see. It forms naturally when uranium, radium and thorium break down in rocks, soil and groundwater. People can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing radon in air that comes in through cracks and gaps in homes and other buildings. Radon can cause lung cancer through prolonged exposure. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, causing between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
The entire state of Kentucky is at high risk for radon exposure with about 40 percent of homes estimated to have unsafe levels. The only way to know if radon exists at dangerous levels in your home is to test for it.
“People can’t see or smell radon so they may not know that it can exist at dangerous levels in their homes and be exposing them to deadly health effects,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the city’s chief health strategist. “We encourage people to take advantage of the free test kits to test their homes for radon.”
The lung cancer risk factors of tobacco smoke and radon are related. More radon-related lung cancers occur in individuals with a history of exposure to tobacco smoke. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, with the highest mortality rate of any cancer. Kentucky has the highest incidence rate of lung cancer in the nation with a rate of 93.4 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 59.4. According to the recently released 2017 Health Equity Report, cancer is the leading cause of death in Louisville.
The death rate from lung cancer in Kentucky is 69.5 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 43.4. In Louisville our lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are also well above the national average. According to the Kentucky Cancer Registry the incidence rate of lung cancer in Louisville is 94.8 per 100,000 compared to 59.4 nationally. The death rate is 61.7 compared to 43.4 nationally.
Here are a few tips to help prevent radon in your home:
- Stop smoking and discourage smoking in your home.
- Smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer from radon.
- Second hand smoking in the home is also a leading cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Increase air flow in your house by opening windows and using fans and vents to circulate air.
- Seal cracks in floors and walls with plaster, caulk, or other materials designed for this purpose.
- Seek a qualified contractor to help remove the radon from your home.
Mitigation costs generally range from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on the size and foundation of the home. Consult the Kentucky Association of Radon Professionals or the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists National Radon Proficiency Program to locate approved contractors near you.
719 new cases of flu were reported last week (Jan. 27 – Feb 2). That’s a new high for this flu season. The predominant strain continues to be type A which is covered in this year’s flu vaccine. You can see more more detail on flu in Louisville by viewing our weekly influenza data briefs found HERE.
Learn more about the flu, the flu vaccine, what to do if you have the flu, and how to prevent the flue HERE.
Neighborhood Place partners provide several opportunities to benefit your health including a Healthy Living Club, an educational baby shower, a Freedom from Smoking Class and much more. To learn more about these offerings, please refer to the list below.
Feb 4, 11 and 21, Passport Health Care Community Engagement at two locations
Passport members are invited to join representatives from Passport Health Care for one-on-one consultations to discuss plan benefits and options. This is a great opportunity as Passport aims to raise awareness and educate the community about the Passport Health Plan mission. Passport members will receive a $10 retail gift card for attending.
- Feb. 4 and 11, at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #16) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1 – 3 p.m. Call (502) 212-6677 to leave a message telling us that you want to attend.
- Feb 21 at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1000 Neighborhood Place, Fairdale, 2 -3 p.m. Call 1-800-578-0603, ext. 8428 to sign up.
Feb. 7, The Center for Women and Families Outreach at First Neighborhood Place, 1- 5 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd (door #24) side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. For more information, contact Nayelyi Sanchez, Domestic Violence Advocate at (502) 581-7270. Staff with the Center for Women and Families will be on-hand to give an overview of their services which include trauma-informed advocacy and support for qualified families and individuals with supportive services; emergency shelter; sexual assault services; housing; children’s services and more.
Feb 7, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). Call 313-4700 for more information. Sodexo, a food-service agency, will provide on-the-spot interviews for positions with Jewish Hospital, Our Lady of Peace and University of Louisville Hospital. Bring your resume and be prepared for an interview. This is one of Sodexo’s busiest hiring seasons. Stop by if you are looking for employment that can lead to a full-time or part-time position.
Feb. 12, Free Energy Management Workshops at First Neighborhood Place, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call 313-4728 or 313-4700 for reservations. Project Warm’s free workshops help families take control of their energy usage and learn “do-it-yourself” energy-saving tips. Free supplies will be distributed at the end of the workshop such as clear plastic/tape for windows, caulk to seal openings around windows and sealing foam. Reservations needed to reserve materials
Feb. 12, 19 and 26, Healthy Living Club at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1 – 2 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 363-1483 for more information. Classes are open to anyone interested in gaining more knowledge to live a better and more fulfilling life. This month’s workshops beginning Feb. 12th are focused on finances including these topics: “Banking”, “How to Use Credit”, “Scams You May Encounter”, and “Financial Abuse- Are You A Victim”. Guest Speakers are Joseph Cecil with Bank on Louisville and Sandra Pace with the U.S. Armed Forces.
Feb. 14 and 20, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower at two locations
For more information, contact Mendy Mason at 502-341-5400. A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Seven Counties and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
- Feb. 14 at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd. 1 – 3 p.m.
- Feb. 20 at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 1- 3 p.m.
Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 20, Freedom from Smoking Class at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 772-8588 for more information or to sign up for the class. This seven-week program features a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking and each session is designed to help smokers gain control over the behavior. Participants are eligible to receive some free nicotine patches for attending the classes.
Members of the Metro Council’s Budget Committee will be updated on progress being made to create low barrier shelters and other programs for the homeless on Thursday, January 31st.
“This is the first meeting of the 2019 Budget Committee and the first time the full Committee will be updated on progress in delivering more services to our homeless neighbors,” says Councilman Bill Hollander (D-9), who chairs the committee.
There will be a special discussion with Eric Friedlander, Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services and Natalie Harris, Coalition for the Homeless. The discussion will include updates on the use of the surplus funds allocated by the Metro Council for homeless services in December 2018. The creation of low barrier shelters and storage facilities are key parts of the effort to help the homeless this winter.
The Budget Committee will meet at 4:30pm in Council Chambers, Historic City Hall, 601 West Jefferson Street. The meeting is carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99.
All meetings of the Metro Council are streamed live. Go to the Metro Council Home page at www.Louisvilleky.gov/metrocouncil and click on the Metro Council Agendas link.