KENTUCKY — On this “In Focus Kentucky” program, we’re taking a look at infrastructure in Kentucky.

Lots of government-led transportation projects, ranging from widening roads to adding bike lanes, to repaving or revamping highways or even replacing bridges in some parts of the state are either underway right now or scheduled for the next two years.

Earlier this spring, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., signed House Bill 266 into law, which is the 2024-2026 Biennial Highway Construction Plan. It was passed by lawmakers during the 2024 General Assembly legislative session in Frankfort.

HB 266 allocates almost $600 million yearly in state and federal funding to address pavement, highway, bridge and street repairs.

Kentucky owns and maintains over 9,000 bridges and over 63,000 lane-miles of pavement.

“It was a very good session. We put out a very good road plan. We were able to do a lot of good things. Probably one of the best things that happened during all that is when they were the state had some excess funds in our rainy day fund, and we put four and a half, $450 million of that money back into our transportation budget. We took a look at our mega projects that you heard us speak of over the years that we’re working on, and we’ve spent quite a bit of money to those projects, plus applied for federal grants. But it continues to grow and and that’s a great thing. And, you know, we build roads for safety, economic development and congestion,” explained State Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon.

Higdon serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, which not only serves as the committee of jurisdiction for transportation related issues, but also is responsible for the Transportation Cabinet budget and Road Plan.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.