UPDATE, 11:45 AM Thurs) — Kentucky Department of Highways have reopened the both lanes of Highway 79 at the Rough River Lake Spillway near the Breckinridge-Grayson County line after engineering team inspection. Crews have placed steel plates on the roadway to allow traffic to use the route. Officials have decided to move ahead with planned bridge deck replacement work beginning on Monday, May 18. Motorists are urged to use caution in the area and watch for additional updates on the project which will restrict traffic patterns in the area during construction. Motorists can continue to use Kentucky Highway 54, 737 and 259 as alternate routes.
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(UPDATE, 9pm Wed) — The Kentucky Department of Highways confirmed Wednesday night that Kentucky Highway 79 at the Rough River Lake Spillway Bridge is closed in both directions due to ‘safety concerns’. The closure is in effect now through at least Thursday for an engineering team to inspect the bridge deck and develop a course of action until the bridge deck replacement project begins in June. Motorists should use Kentucky Highway 54, 737 and 259 as alternate routes.
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Original Story…
FALLS OF ROUGH (05/13/26) — According to a Facebook post by the Breckinridge County Emergency Management office, Kentucky Highway 79 at the Rough River Dam on the Breckinridge-Grayson County is closed until further notice. No explanation was given for the closure, but the post stated the closure is not connected to the work at the dam, which has not started yet. Drivers should avoid the area, seek alternate routes and allow for extra driving time.
