Two counties, one city awarded transportation funds

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

FRANKFORT — Governor Andy Beshear announced Thursday that $11.8 million in discretionary transportation funding would be distributed to 33 counties and 13 cities for street and road repairs, including Martin and Floyd counties as well as the city of Prestonsburg.

Martin County is slated to receive $278,000 toward resurfacing Wolf Creek Old Country Road, Trace Fork, Davella, Long Branch and Big Mud Lick Road.

Floyd County was allotted $188,000 toward resurfacing Happy Hollow Road, Shop Branch of Bull Creek Road and the Left Fork of Moore Fork Road.

Prestonsburg is set to receive $11,839 toward the resurfacing of Memorial Road.

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

The funding from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will support 177 projects that include resurfacing, patching and sealing, storm drain work, slip repair and, in once case, a connector road for economic development.

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

With this latest round of discretionary transportation funding, Beshear’s administration has invested $17.3 million in local infrastructure in 2021 and $33.2 million since January 2020, according to a press release.

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

All the projects were submitted to the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid for discretionary fund consideration. They were evaluated by staff in each of the 12 Department of Highways districts, which considered such factors as safety, traffic volume and economic impact.