Repairs to the dam at Rough River are scheduled to begin this month and will restrict traffic across the dam to one lane.

The Corps of Engineers announced this week the contract to raise KY 79, build a concrete barrier on the upstream side of the dam, and rock toe repairs below the dam has been awarded.

The work will take about 270 days, the Corps reported, but will stop during the Old Time Fiddlers Contest.

Public access to the tailwater fishing area will be restricted, the Corps said, but the tailwater campground will remain open by a temporary entrance to be built through the Corps' parking lot.

The work at the top of the dam is to correct the spillway deficiency, which, in turn, makes the rock toe at the bottom of the dam necessary. Soil removed from the toe of the dam will be stockpiled beside the airport runway.

During construction, the Corps plans to put up automated traffic control signs at each end of the dam to regulate the one-way, one-lane traffic flow.

The work will stop between July 20-23 for the fiddling contest, the Corps said. The contract was awarded to HTA Enterprises, Inc. on May 26.