HIGDON, KING SECURE SIGNIFICANT ROAD FUNDING BENEFITING WASHINGTON COUNTY, LOCAL PROJECTS

HIGDON, KING SECURE SIGNIFICANT ROAD FUNDING BENEFITING WASHINGTON COUNTY, LOCAL PROJECTS

Transformational funding supports county road  upgrades and local economic development

FRANKFORT, KY (April 10, 2024)—With the support of Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, and Rep. Kim King, R-Harrodsburg, the state will spend millions of dollars over the next two years focused on road projects and repairs and supporting economic growth.

Included in the state's two-year road plan, House Bill (HB) 266, Higdon helped secure over $39.65 million for planning, designing, obtaining rights-of-way, utility work, and construction of various projects in the county, including

• $8.1 million to improve mobility on the KY Highway 555 Heartland Parkway corridor from US Highway 150X (mile point 0.00) to KY Highway 53 (mile point 8.7),

• $7.5 million to improve safety, mobility and geometrics along US Highway 150 from west of Old Fredericktown-Bardstown Road through Grundy Home curve to Mayfield Lane,

• $5.25 million to improve safety, mobility and geometrics along US Highway 150 in Washington County from 0.7 miles east of Grundy Home Road (mile point 2.50) to US Highway 150X (mile point 6.557) at the Old St. Catherine's College,

• $4.6 million to improve mobility on the KY Highway 555 Heartland Parkway corridor from KY Highway 53 to Bluegrass Parkway,

• $3 million to address geometric deficiencies along KY Highway 152 from US Highway 150 (mile points 8.815-9.9),

• Over $672,000 to replace the existing metal truss bridge on Sulphur Lick Road, 

• Over $6.96 million for repairs to four bridges, 

• More than $3.57 million for repaving and resurfacing state roads within the county and

• $261,000 to support two county priority projects. Washington County projects are on pages 49-50 of House Joint Resolution (HJR) 92. 

HJR 91 includes scheduled projects and anticipated needs for the remaining four years of the six-year highway construction plan. Find HJR 91 HERE. Washington County-specific projects can be found on pages 229-230.

Higdon serves as Senate Transportation Committee chair. 

As a provision in HB 1, the Washington County Fiscal Court will receive $1.26 million for critical natural gas infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the City of Springfield is due $1.5 million to expand the Springfield Wastewater Treatment Plant.

NATURAL GAS PROJECT BACKGROUND
Willett Distillery and Project Capstone, operating under the Slow Pass Bourbon Company, are set to invest over $200 million in developing distillery projects in Springfield near US Highway 150 and US Highway 52. This investment could create as many as 85 new jobs. 

However, the current gas infrastructure in the area requires significant upgrades for these projects to function effectively. Atmos Energy, the utility provider, determined approximately 4,700 feet of existing 4-inch gas pipelines need to be replaced with 8-inch pipelines to meet the gas demand of these projects, estimated to cost $696,460. This initial upgrade is necessary for both companies' Phase I operations, which require up to 100 MCFH (thousand cubic feet per hour) of gas capacity. 

Furthermore, an additional extension of 1,940 feet of the 8-inch line is needed for the Slow Pass Distillery's subsequent phases, costing an extra $564,000 to support up to 160 MCFH. The proposal suggests consolidating these requirements into a single project, which includes laying 4,700 feet of 8-inch polyethylene pipe to suffice the gas needs of both Willett Distillery and Slow Pass Distillery's multiple phases, ensuring efficient resource allocation and project implementation. The upgrades will allow each project to reach its full potential and will also allow for future growth and expansion in the area. Funding support in HB 1 will help make this possible. 

HB 1 leverages Kentucky's $3.7 billion budget reserve trust fund to boost infrastructure and stimulate economic growth, among other priorities. The legislation invests over $2.7 billion from the budget reserve trust. Budget-related bills are still subject to final changes and consideration of gubernatorial line-item vetoes during the final two days of the 2024 Legislative Session: Friday, April 12, and Monday, April 15. 

###

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, represents the 14th Senate District, including Larue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, and Washington Counties. Higdon serves as Senate Transportation Committee chair. Higdon is also the Public Pension Oversight Board co-chair.  He serves as an Education; Licensing and Occupations and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection committee member. Higdon previously served as a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee member, which was restructured as a part of the new Senate Health Services Committee.

Visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate114.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Higdon. 

Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the 2024 Legislative Session, such as committee schedules, membership, legislation, and more.

Live legislative coverage is available at KET.org/legislature and via the Legislative Research Commission YouTube channel. 

Access archived footage of legislative meetings at ket.org/legislature/archives.
Follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also find information on caucus members, as well as view press releases from our office, by visiting KYSenateRepublicans.com.