Lexington, KY – Congressman Andy Barr is pleased to announce that the Commonwealth of Kentucky will receive $55,150,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand 11 miles of the Mountain Parkway from two to four lanes between the KY 191 overpass and the KY 205 interchange. This funding is being allocated through the DOT’s Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and will be disbursed to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to begin the project.
“Expanding capacity on this 11-mile stretch of the Mountain Parkway will make transportation on the Parkway more efficient and will be a boost for commerce in the region,” said Congressman Barr. “The Parkway is a key corridor connecting the Appalachian region with Central Kentucky and this project will enhance accessibility to the Parkway for Kentuckians while improving road conditions, safety measures and mobility for drivers. I am especially excited about the economic development impact of this grant in Wolfe, Powell and Clark Counties—the Mountain Parkway counties in the Sixth District.”
“This Administration is focused on infrastructure improvements and this $906 million in federal funding would improve major highways, bridges, ports, and railroads across the country to better connect our communities, enhance safety, and support economic growth,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao of the INFRA grant program funding this project.
“This is great news for the people of Wolfe County and Eastern Kentucky”, said Wolfe County Judge Executive Raymond Banks. “The expansion of the Mountain Parkway will promote economic development in the region and will create safer road conditions for the people in our area. I would like to thank Congressman Barr for advocating on behalf of Wolfe County for this much needed project.”
Congressman Barr wrote a letter of support in support of this grant request in February to Secretary Chao. Congressman Barr also voted for the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act in 2015 that established the INFRA grant program and for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill to fund the DOT and the INFRA grant program for the fiscal year 2020.
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