UPDATE: Aug. 18 at 2 p.m.
Construction has begun on the final 13-mile segment of Kentucky's Mountain Parkway Expansion, marking the last phase of a $1 billion infrastructure project decades in the making.
Governor Andy Beshear joined local, state and federal officials in Prestonsburg to break ground on the Magoffin-Floyd segment, which will connect Salyersville in Magoffin County to Prestonsburg in Floyd County.
The 13-mile stretch represents the last of six project segments in the 45-mile expansion, which aims to create a continuous, four-lane, high-speed corridor linking Eastern Kentucky to the rest of the commonwealth.
The Magoffin-Floyd segment is constructing entirely new roadway rather than expanding existing routes. The design includes multiple new bridge structures, a modern roundabout at the eastern terminus in Prestonsburg, and will require an estimated 30 million cubic yards of excavation.
In 2022, Beshear announced plans for this section to follow a new cross-country route instead of widening the current KY 114 corridor to minimize disruptions to homes and businesses.
The project received a $116.3 million federal Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant last year, accelerating its timeline. It also benefited from a $150 million general fund commitment proposed by Beshear and approved by the Kentucky General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session.
Original Story:
The Office of Governor Andy Beshear announced that a $116.3 million infrastructure grant will aid in the quick completion of the Mountain Parkway Expansion project, providing Eastern Kentucky a safe and fast commute.
"Kentucky is continuing to move forward with essential projects that will strengthen our commonwealth and drive progress to make life better for Kentuckians,” said Gov. Beshear.
A release from Beshear's office noted that the project has been a top priority in the governor's administration.
“We’re grateful for these federal dollars, which will help move us closer to the finish line on this promising and much-needed project," the release read. "Thank you to all the local and state leaders who advocated for this funding, and thanks to President Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for getting it done.”
The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant will help to complete the final section of the nearly $300 million project. The release detailed that the final section consists of a nearly 13-mile stretch of construction that will extend the parkway from the Salyersville in Magoffin County to Prestonburg in Floyd County, known as the "Magoffin-Floyd."
“We’re not just investing in a project; we’re investing in the safety and opportunities for the people of Eastern Kentucky,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “The reduced federal funding request not only made us more competitive but showed we stand ready to get this project done for Kentuckians.”
Beshear added that the final section is currently in the detail design and pre-construction phase which will lead into the construction process.
The funding "will help alleviate any delays or barriers to starting construction once development is complete and will allow the project team to develop a more accurate construction timeline and project completion schedule," the release read.
Upon completion, Beshear said that Kentucky will have 400 continuous miles of four-lane, high-speed highway that will connect Pikeville to Paducah, giving Kentuckians quick mobility across the state.
The following sections make up the entire Mountain Parkway Expansion project:
- Wolfe County | 11 miles | August 2022 – under construction, anticipated completion 2027
- Morgan County | 8.2 miles | 2017-2021
- Magoffin County West | 4.6 miles | 2019 – under construction, anticipated completion 2024
- Magoffin County Central | 5.7 miles | 2015-2018
- Salyersville Restaurant Row | 2.4 miles | 2016-2019
- Magoffin-Floyd | 13 miles | Under development
