GLASGOW, Ky. — County road crews in Barren County are staying busy with a wide range of maintenance work following a harsh winter, according to Road Supervisor Jamie Degroft.

“Everything we deal with is dusty right now,” Degroft said, describing current conditions as crews work across the county’s 612 miles of roadway.

Crews have been focused on replacing culvert tiles, ditch work, shoulder repairs and right-of-way mowing. In addition to routine maintenance, workers are also addressing ongoing environmental concerns.

“We’ve been staying busy trying to keep spraying this poisonous hemlock around the county,” Degroft said. “That’s been an ongoing thing. We’ll probably never eradicate it, but we’ve got to control it.”

Crews are also continuing repairs from damage caused by a severe winter season.

The dry weather has helped accelerate some work, allowing crews more access to damaged areas.

Barren County has also been officially allocated Local Assistance Road Program funding as of April 15, though project paperwork will not be finalized until July, when the new fiscal year begins.

Judge/Executive Jamie Byrd said to expect projects to move forward in the fall.

Among the planned paving projects are Beckton-Rocky Hill Road at $271,000, Hollow Road at $136,000, and Old Munfordville Road at $368,000.

“That’s a huge amount of money to put into paving,” Byrd said.

Byrd said six or seven roads were submitted for consideration based on high travel demand, with those three ultimately selected for funding. Altogether, the projects are part of roughly $20 million in road improvements tied to the program.

Bid packets for the paving projects will go out soon after discussion in the county’s transportation committee, Byrd said.

In addition to future paving, chip sealing work is already underway through contracted crewsm Degroft said. Two districts have been completed so far.

“That’s helping hold these roads together,” Degroft said. “Got more to do.”