FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Calloway County Fiscal Court, Pulaski County Fiscal Court and Owensboro Riverport Authority are the recipients of competitive Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) federal grants totaling $59.5 million to fund projects that improve safety, access and mobility for motorists and freight movement in Kentucky. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet committed more than one-half of the combined project costs and submitted letters of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation to advocate for these needed infrastructure improvements within the state.
“The fact that multiple Kentucky projects were selected for this highly sought-after national grant demonstrates the impact significant financial contributions at the local and state level have to build better transportation systems in the Commonwealth,” said KYTC Secretary Greg Thomas. “We’re thankful for the safety and economic benefits these projects will provide and look forward to lending experienced administrative support to the award recipients to see these projects through.”
The Calloway County Fiscal Court was awarded $23 million for the reconstruction and widening of US 641 from the Kentucky-Tennessee line to the Clarks River Bridge south of Murray, Ky. The existing narrow, two-lane roadway will be widened to a new four-lane highway that meets current design standards. This will improve safety on the high-crash rate corridor used by commercial trucks, commuters and Murray State University students and employees. The completion of the corridor will provide a critical transportation link by connecting Calloway County to I-40 and Paris, Tennessee. The project will also unlock economic development opportunities for the rural southwestern Kentucky region.
The Pulaski County Fiscal Court was awarded $25 million to construct a new interchange to connect three major routes on KY 80, KY 461 and I-66. This project is a regional priority for south-central Kentucky to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion, support area industries and enhance economic development. A three-mile section of KY 461 will be widened from two to four lanes on a route used heavily by commercial trucks and Lake Cumberland tourists traveling from I-75.
The Owensboro Riverport Authority was awarded $11.5 million to improve and widen KY 331 and Rinaldo Road in Owensboro. KY 331 is the main access road to the Owensboro Riverport and supports commercial truck traffic, as well motorists in a nearby residential development. Widening the road near second and fourth street to the end of the railroad tracks following the riverport entrance will improve safety, access to existing industrial sites and promote economic vitality.
The maximum amount of BUILD funding awarded for each project is $25 million, and no more than $150 million of BUILD funding can be awarded to a single state.
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