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Webster County projects included in KY’s Six-Year Highway Plan by Gwen Hicox--ghicox@journalenterprise.com Three Webster County road projects are slated to receive nearly $1.4 million according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s recommended FY 2005-2010 Six -Year Highway Plan. Federal and state highway project funding for FY 2005-2010 total $5 billion state-wide. Drawing from federal Safety-Hazard Elimination funds, the cabinet has plans to eliminate one of Webster County’s accident prone intersections. Reconstruction of Kentucky Highway 132 at the intersection of Kentucky Highway 1340 will eliminate the hazardous “Y” intersection and provide a “T” intersection. Construction is scheduled to begin in FY 2005. Estimated cost of the project is $280,000. “It is critical to all Kentuckians that the roadways that serve as the lifeline for our communities are safe,” said Secretary of Transportation Maxwell C. Bailey. “The Six-Year Highway Plan will address numerous spot locations where car crashes are a recurring problem. As the Hazard Elimination Programs are implemented, the potential for fatal crashes should be correspondingly reduced across the state.” Also slated for replacement is a bridge and approaches along Kentucky Highway 270 over a branch of Crab Orchard Creek, .4 miles southeast of the junction with Kentucky Highway 132. Right-of-way procurement and utility relocation for the project will begin in FY 2004. Construction is scheduled to begin in FY 2005. Estimated cost of the project is $395,000. “This edition of the Six-Year-Highway Plan focuses on replacing deficient bridges where weight limitation or narrow bridge widths cause concern for those who use these structures,” said Bailey. Three-and-a-half miles of mill work along Breathitt Parkway has also been included in the Six-Year Plan. A thin overlay along the parkway will be laid beginning at milepoint 61.85 in Webster County and continuing to milepoint 65.393 in Henderson County. Construction work is scheduled to being in FY 2007 at an estimated cost of $709,000. “A safe and reliable transportation system is vital to Kentucky’s future economic growth, national competitiveness and overall quality of life,” said Bailey. “A recent study reveals that 32 percent of Kentucky’s interstate highway pavements and 45 percent of parkway pavements are in poor condition and in need of repair. “Driving on roads in need of these repairs cost Kentucky motorists hundreds of millions of dollars annually in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs. Accordingly, a primary focus of the 2004- Six-Year Highway Plan update is pavement repair on major routes across Kentucky.” E-Mail this article to a friend.

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