KENTUCKY — Five riverports across the Commonwealth will soon receive a flood of grant funding for improvements, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday.

A total of $500,000 in grants for critical repairs and equipment replacement will benefit communities in Paducah, Eddyville, Hickman, Owensboro and Louisville.

“From roads to riverports, quality transportation systems are vital to support a thriving economy,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement to Spectrum News 1. “This investment in our riverports will improve operations to move cargo more efficiently and safely.”

The awards, recommended by the Kentucky Water Transportation Advisory Board and administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, will fund five projects at the following five riverports:

Owensboro Riverport Authority

• $34,807 toward purchase of a compact track loader for daily handling of bulk products.

Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority

• $126,500 toward repair of the main loading dock to improve safety and prevent issues caused by corrosion of the steel components.

Hickman Fulton County Riverport Authority

• $136,265 to replace a 40-year old front-end loader with a newer model used to load and unload bulk materials between trucks and barges.

Louisville-Jefferson County Riverport Authority

• $178,803 for construction of a 1,775-foot rail line to bypass an outer rail loop in a high traffic area.

Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority

• $23,625 to purchase a clamshell bucket used to transfer bulk products. This will replace one of two aging clamshell buckets that require frequent maintenance.

Kentucky riverports applied for the grants after the 2021 General Assembly appropriated funding for them. KYTC Secretary Jim Gray noted that the state has a comprehensive transportation system, and rivers play a vital role.

“Kentucky’s riverports play a vital role in the flow of freight across our waterways,” Gray said. “These funds will go a long way to upgrade daily operations and spur economic opportunities.”