Land Between the Lakes officials say road crews are continuing repairs on several problem spots this spring, with the biggest focus on Forest Service Road 134, also known as Energy Lake Road, where repeated washouts and storm damage have led to a series of closures over the past several years.
According to LBL Public Affairs Officer Scott Raymond, crews are now close to reopening the road from US 68 up to Energy Lake and the Woodlands Nature Station, after installing a much larger replacement culvert in an area that has repeatedly failed during heavy rain events.
click to download audioRaymond says the latest project is just the latest in a long-running problem along Energy Lake Road. He said there was a washout several years ago that was repaired, followed by a bridge failure the next year that forced another closure and repair project. He says that bridge work was completed more quickly with help from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Raymond says another area getting attention this year is Road 165, which leads to Wranglers Campground.
click to download audioRaymond says the challenge for LBL is scale, adding that the recreation area has roughly 400 roads, and with limited funding and staffing, it can be difficult to keep every route in the condition visitors would like. He says officials rely heavily on the public to report problem areas when they find them.
While work continues on the roads, Raymond says the buildings and facilities that suffered weather damage over the past two years are ready for spring and summer.
click to download audioLBL dealt with several areas of storm damage in 2024, while also completing repairs to the Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium, The Homeplace 1850s, trail bridges, and campground facilities at Hillman Ferry.
