GLASGOW, Ky. — Construction of the new Barren County Judicial Center is moving forward, but the project is now about six weeks behind its original schedule, according to an update provided to the project’s development board.

The Judicial Center Project Development Board met Sept. 30 and received an update on the construction project.

The building is currently expected to be completed in fall 2028.

Once completed, the West Main Street facility will house courthouse functions now located in the downtown courthouse such as court hearings and the circuit court clerk’s office.

Some county government offices are expected to relocate to the existing courthouse after the judiciary moves to the new facility.

Three weeks of the delay are attributed to weather, while the remaining three weeks are related to a concrete blowout incident, according to the meeting minutes.

Despite the delay, crews have made progress at the site over the past month.

About 95% of underground utility work has been completed. This work includes installing the pipes, conduits and other infrastructure that will serve the building.

Crews are now preparing to pour the building’s concrete floor slabs.

The elevator towers have reached their final heights, while work continues on the stairwell towers and exterior concrete walls.

The next major milestone will be installing structural steel, which is expected to begin within the next 60 days.

Structural steel will form much of the building’s framework and will allow the structure to begin taking shape above the concrete foundation and floors.

Changes to the project

Architect Adam Gillett also reviewed three anticipated changes to the project.

One involves removing pavers from a lower roof after the project team determined they are not necessary. Removing the pavers is expected to reduce the project’s cost.

Another change involves adjustments to the hardware used on the building’s doors following discussions between the design team and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The third involves the building’s vehicle entrance.

According to the meeting minutes, the project plans showed wall types for both the exterior and interior portions of the entrance, but a detail for the interior wall was left out. Because of that omission, the contractor did not include the necessary materials in its original bid.

The project team is working with Alliance, the contractor, to minimize the financial impact of the issue.

The next Judicial Center Project Development Board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m.