Thayer Secures Transformative Funding For Scott County
Frankfort, KY — Scott County will receive significant support for local projects and road improvements thanks to the advocacy of Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.
As a result of a Senate-led proposal, House Bill (HB) 1 included $450 million for the state’s two-year road plan, HB 266, to support high-growth regions such as Georgetown. A notable example relevant to Georgetown and Scott County residents is $21.75 million to reconstruct and widen US Highway 25 (Georgetown Road) from Kearney Road to Ironworks Road. This will improve capacity and address congestion between Georgetown and Lexington. General fund dollars support the project.
Included in the biennial road plan specifically for Scott County is more than $18.15 million for planning, designing, obtaining rights-of-way, utility work, and construction of various road and bridge projects in the county including
- $8.75 million to improve capacity and access on KY Highway 2906 (Connector Road) from US Highway 460 to US Highway 62,
- Over $3.56 million to improve conditions of Interstate 64 from mile point 67.106 to mile point 71.
- $2.7 million to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection of US Highway 62 (Paynes Depot Road), US Highway 421 (Leestown Road), and Weisenberger Mill Road,
- More than $2.42 million for two county bridge projects:
- $1.7 million for a bridge project on Hinton Road, and
- Over $1.66 million for a bridge replacement project on Lemons Mill Road.
- $710,000 for safety improvements at two new Scott County High School entrances on KY Highway 32 (Long Lick Pike) and KY Highway 1143 (Georgetown Bypass).
House Joint Resolution (HJR) 91 includes scheduled projects and anticipated needs for the remaining four years of the six-year highway construction plan. Find HJR 91 HERE. Scott County-specific projects can be found on pages 203-205.
Scott County will also receive $480,000 through HJR 92 to support a priority project resurfacing Triport Road.
Additionally, as a provision of HB 1, which leverages $2.7 billion from the state’s budget reserve trust fund (BRTF), the City of Georgetown will receive $7 million for various water and wastewater infrastructure projects for Georgetown Municipal Water and Sewer Service.
Finally, HB 1 also invests $36 million, $18 million in each fiscal year, which will be awarded to the Kentucky Horse Park Commission facility upgrades to be allocated as follows
- $2.5 million for the renovation of the restaurant,
- $15 million for the replacement of competition barns and stalls,
- $7 million for the renovation of entertainment pavilions,
- $5 million for the replacement of campground sites and bathhouse,
- $1.5 million for a maintenance pool, and
- $5 million for the renovation of the International Museum of the Horse.
The 2024 Legislative Session concluded on Monday, April 15.