$11.8 million in funding announced for road improvements

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Over $11.8 million in discretionary transportation funding will go toward helping dozens of local governments with street and road repairs.

“One way we build a better Kentucky is by making our streets and roads better,” said Gov. Beshear. “This funding enables 46 cities and counties to upgrade pavements and improve local transportation infrastructure, which will directly benefit Kentuckians in these communities.”

This latest funding brings the Beshear Administration’s total amount invested in local infrastructure in 2021 to $17.3 million and $33.2 million since January 2020.

Much focus on the 177 approved projects will be on resurfacing deteriorating roads.

One exception is $575,000 going toward Bourbon County’s construction of a second access road to and from the Paris-Bourbon County Industrial Park. This involves a half-mile extension of an existing industrial park road to connect it with U.S. Route 68, also known as the Paris Bypass. It is anticipated to help handle increased freight traffic and for industrial park employees.

The City of Warsaw will receive $162,060 toward the cost of new storm drains on East Main Street. The City of Cynthiana will receive $211,325 for repair of Waterworks Avenue, which has been reduced to one-way traffic due to slides caused by flooding on the South Licking River.

“These are the types of projects that make a positive difference in Kentuckians’ daily lives,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “I’m excited to see them completed and for many of our local streets and roads to be safer and easier to travel.”

The KYTC Department of Rural and Municipal Aid evaluated all the submitted projects for discretionary fund consideration. Factors considered in the decision were safety, traffic volume and economic impact.

In each case, the county fiscal court or city council approved for funding is responsible for administering the work and will be reimbursed by KYTC.

For a complete list of awards, click here.