FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky state government today announced a new round of discretionary road funds totaling more than $2.1 million to 15 local governments.
State officials approved the city of Bardstown’s request for $117,500 to resurface three heavily trafficked local streets: Guthrie Drive, Atkinson Hill Avenue and Culpepper Street. Guthrie Drive, a connector between Bardstown’s two primary routes, U.S. Highways 62 and 150, also provides access to the Nelson County Courthouse, city police, county sheriff and a fire station. It was last paved 11 years ago, according to the city’s application.
Likewise, Bracken County’s request was approved for $111,150 in road funds for resurfacing sections of Doyle’s Lane and Jacob’s Road. Judge/Executive Tina Teegarden said neither road had been paved in more than 20 years. “These roads have been maintained as well as possible over the last two decades” by county road crews, she said.
Elsewhere, Frankfort approved $300,000 for Laurel County to go toward resurfacing nearly 3.5 miles of Buffalo Road and Buffalo Branch Road, which connect Laurel County with neighboring Jackson County.
“The condition of these roads has greatly deteriorated in the last few years, and they are in great need of repair,” Judge/Executive David Westerfield said in the application. “The Postal Service is complaining about condition of the roads, as well as the Laurel and Jackson counties schools.”
Also approved for funding were the counties of Boyle, Crittenden, Garrard, Harlan, Knox, Lawrence, Nicholas, Russell and Union, along with the cities of Bardstown, Coal Run Village, Hazard and Manchester.
During his administration, Gov. Andy Beshear has approved more than more than $70.3 million in discretionary road fund awards have been made to all 120 Kentucky counties. Click here for a list of the awards announced today.
The discretionary funding is administered through the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).
