FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. — Improving Kentucky roadways was a major focus of this year’s budget-making process. In Central Kentucky, monies were allotted to major roads and highways, aimed at improving safety and more efficient traffic flow.

What You Need To Know

  • The state budget allocated for widening and reconstruction of Georgetown Road between Scott and Fayette Counties 

  • Most of the work will take place between Kearney Road and Iron Works Pike 

  • Money is also allocated to improve congestion at the chokepoints of I-64 and I-75 at the north and south split

  • The state will also improve congestion at New Circle Road

As part of the state’s two-year road plan, $21.75 million is going toward widening and reconstruction of U.S. 25, commonly known as Georgetown Road in Fayette County. It’s a road traveled by many Fayette and Scott County residents.

“That’s a real big deal for my constituents in Georgetown; a lot of people drive that road back and forth every day. Just try to drive it sometime and you’ll see what I mean,” said Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.

Most of the work will occur from Kearney Road to Iron Works Pike. It’s currently one lane of traffic each way. The budget also allocates for widening of U.S. 25 from Spurr Road to Kearney Road, also in Fayette County. Thayer said this was a priority project for him in this year’s budget.

“It’s expensive because you’ve got to widen it and there some expensive horse farms there that you have to buy property from and then you’ve got the bridges over I-75 so it’s a pretty expensive project but it’s long been needed and the fact I now represent a portion of Fayette County allowed me to get that funding in the budget,” Thayer said.

Along U.S. 25 between Fayette and Scott Counties is Red State BBQ. David Carroll has owned the restaurant for over 10 years. He said that stretch of Georgetown Road is prone to accidents.

“We’ve had stuff, unfortunately it’s an annual basis, going back the entirety of the time I owned the business,” Carroll said.

Including at least two incidents Carroll has seen firsthand within the last month.

“Actually, last Friday we had someone hit a telephone pole and a couple weeks before that someone took out the fire hydrant across from the restaurant,” Carroll said.

Red State BBQ and the motel have been there since at least the 1940s before Interstate 75 was built. Carroll said it was one of the first major throughways between Scott and Fayette Counties.

Another major budget item is money allocated to reduce congestion of chokepoints along I-64 and I-75 near Lexington. Including the southern split heading east toward Clark County and northern split headed west toward Frankfort and Midway. 

Thayer said Lexington and Central Kentucky continues to see growth. Adding it’s a major hub for shopping, dining and entertainment for many in Kentucky. 

“You go to any mall in Lexington on the weekend and you see license plates from all over south-central Kentucky and eastern Kentucky,” Thayer said. “I think it’s important to have these roads not only for those of us that live in Central Kentucky but for people who come here to enjoy our amenities from all over the state and country.”

The state will also spend millions of dollars aimed at improving congestion of New Circle Road at various sections in Lexington from 2024 to 2030 as part of the two-year road plan in HB 266 and 2026-2030 pre-construction plan in HJ 91.

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