$116 million grant will speed up construction for Kentucky highway

KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — Closing the transportation gap—that is what the Mountain Parkway Expansion project is doing.

As of Wednesday, the project will speed up completion after a $116 million federal grant.

“The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant will help to complete the nearly $300 million construction project for the final piece of the parkway, a nearly 13-mile stretch of new construction known as the “Magoffin-Floyd” segment that will extend the parkway from Salyersville in Magoffin County to Prestonsburg in Floyd County,” announced Gov. Andy Beshear’s Office.

More than 30 miles of highway have been widened already from western Wolfe county to Salyersville, with work continuing every day.

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“Big project, transformational, almost a billion dollar investment to modernize the highway, improve safety, and provide and maintain an important economic conduit into the mountains that will improve quality of life for all Kentuckians,” said Secretary of Transportation Jim Gray (D).

State Senator Phillip Wheeler (R) said this is great news for a region that has suffered for a long time; the project is not only allowing for better transportation but a hope for the future.

“Not only provide shovel-ready jobs for people in the region working on building the road, but again, provide hope for the future in the form of new industries and new opportunities for the people that live here,” said Wheeler.

Drivers will not have to worry about long wait times due to construction. Transportation leaders said the new work will not affect current traffic patterns.

For more information about the Mountain Parkway Expansion project, click here.

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