TURNER SECURES TRANSFORMATIVE
FUNDING FOR HARLAN COUNTY
FRANKFORT, KY (May 17, 2024)—Harlan County will receive significant support for local projects and road improvements thanks to the advocacy of Sen. Johnnie Turner, R-Harlan.
Through House Bill (HB) 6, the biennial state budget, Turner and the legislature authorized nearly $8.5 million in bond funds supporting Kentucky State Police Post 10 in Harlan. HB 1, which leverages $2.7 billion from the state’s budget reserve trust fund, Turner secured transformational one-time funding benefiting projects in Harlan County, including
$3.8 million for the Harlan County Fiscal Court to support the wellness and recreation center,
$2.6 million for the City of Evarts for a new water storage tank, clear well, and water line replacement,
$1 million total for the Harlan County Fiscal Court to support Backroads of Appalachia, and
$125,000 for construction of the KY Highway 160 Black Mountain Roadside Overlook.
As a result of a Senate-led proposal, HB 1 included $450 million for the state’s two-year road plan, HB 266, to boost road projects across the state.
Included in the biennial road plan specifically for Harlan County is more than $71 million for bridges and roads in the county, including
More than $29.7 million for eight bridge projects,
$26.4 million for improving mobility on US Highway 421 near the state line by eliminating a switchback curve. This project is a direct beneficiary of general fund dollars infused into the state road plan.
Almost $5.11 million to address conditions of US Highway 421 from mile point 14.2 to mile point 15.75,
$2.6 million for spot improvements to widen particular locations along KY Highway 2010 to improve mobility and safety,
Nearly $2.1 million for guardrail installation projects throughout the county,
$1.5 million for spot improvements to improve geometrics at particular locations of US Highway 421 crossing over Pine Mountain between US Highway 119 and KY Highway 221 to address safety concerns (mile point 17.2 to mile point 23.0),
$1 million for constructing various turn lanes along US Highway 119 at Camp O. Cumberlands, Billy G Hollow Road, KY Highway 3467, Shewmaker Hollow, KY Highway 3452, and Tremont Lane,
$1 million for improving safety along KY Highway 38, KY Highway 221, KY Highway 987, US Highway 421, and KY Highway 522 by removing trees,
$900,000 for spot improvements to improve geometrics at particular locations of KY Highway 221 to address safety concerns (mile point 10 to mile point 17.5),
$750,000 for extending KY Highway 72 from Alva/Black Star near the Harlan and Bell County line to Liggett west of the city of Harlan, involving approximately 5 miles of reconstruction, and
$750,000 for spot improvements to strengthen geometrics at particular locations of US Highway 421 crossing Pine Mountain between US Highway 119 and KY Highway 221 to address safety concerns (mile point 17.2 to mile point 23).
Harlan County will receive $59,000 through House Joint Resolution (HJR) 92 to support three county priority projects.
Additionally, HJR 91 includes scheduled projects and anticipated needs for the remaining four years of the six-year highway construction plan. Find HJR 91 HERE. Harlan County-specific projects can be found on pages 92-93.
The 2024 Legislative Session concluded on Monday, April 15. The 2024 Interim begins in June.
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Sen. Turner, R- Harlan, represents the 29th Senate District, encompassing Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, and Letcher Counties. Senator Turner is a member of the Interim joint committees on Judiciary, Natural Resources and Energy, Transportation, and Banking and Insurance. He served on the 2023 Multimodal Freight Transportation System Improvement Task Force.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Turner, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=129
Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for more information on Senate Majority Caucus members and the recently concluded 2024 Legislative Session.
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