Requested Transportation Projects for House District 91

Roads and bridges are a key component of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure, facilitating travel for residents and tourists, connecting rural and urban areas of the state, and fueling economic development and growth.

With thousands of Kentuckians and visitors relying on our roads and bridges each day, investment in this critical infrastructure is essential to maintaining its safety and reliability.  

Looking ahead to the 2026 Regular Session, one of the General Assembly’s major transportation-related priorities is enacting the Biennial Highway Construction Plan for the next two years, which contains critical road, bridge, and safety investments across Kentucky. 

Biennial Highway Construction Plan: Every two years, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) staff develops a recommended Biennial Highway Construction Plan, which outlines road, bridge, and safety improvement projects funded by both state and federal dollars. KYTC determines which projects are included using the Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT), a data-driven approach that compares and prioritizes projects based on objective criteria rather than political influences or preferences. 

Once completed, the Cabinet submits the plan to the General Assembly for approval as we shape the final road plan. We then review the plan, make any necessary amendments, and pass legislation to allocate funding for approved projects. 

Requested Projects: This week, I had a meeting to review the SHIFT scores of several transportation projects in House District 91, work with KYTC and district engineers to prioritize projects, and advocate for several needed projects here locally. Now, it is important to understand that, while I requested funding for multiple projects, nothing is guaranteed until the General Assembly passes legislation to enact the Biennial Highway Construction Plan and allocate funding to approved projects. These projects also take time and often require multiple years of funding to complete. For instance, before construction on a project begins, it goes through a pre-construction phase, which accounts for planning, design, right of way, and utility considerations. 

For House District 91, I requested funding for several projects in Estill County and Powell County. I’m also looking to add some guardrail projects to my list of requests. 

For Powell County, I requested funding to complete a project to install lighting at Exit 16 on the Mountain Parkway in calendar year 2026; enter the beginning stages of a project to improve access to the Red River Gorge area by reconstructing ramps and terminals at Exit 33 of the Mountain Parkway; continue work on a project to improve safety, upgrade the design to improve safety and capacity, and address capacity issues for KY 213 from KY 615 to the bottom of the mountain; and enter the beginning stages of a project to improve drainage on KY 11 from Derickson Lane to Ewen Street. 

For Estill County, I requested funding to begin the early stages of a project to replace Millers Creek Bridge with a wider bridge; begin the early stages of a project to improve drainage and pedestrian facilities from the Rice Street intersection to the bridge over the Kentucky River; continue work on a project to improve the level of service, safety, and connectivity on KY 82 from KY 89 in Estill County to the new construction located north of Hudson Mill Road in Estill County; begin the design process on a project to improve geometrics and mobility on KY 89 from 1500 feet north of Landfill Road (across from Estill County High School) to the KY 82 Intersection; and break ground on a project to construct a walkway across the Kentucky River along KY 52 in Irvine in calendar year 2026. 

The project to construct a walkway across the Kentucky River along KY 52 in Irvine has already previously received funding to complete the pre-construction phases of the project. Now, I’m looking to secure funding to help start the construction process. This bridge is a key component of our district’s transportation network, serving as a key connection into downtown Irvine. Once completed, this project will help make this bridge safer for pedestrians by creating a dedicated walkway for their use, with the goal of creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment and improving accessibility.  

Additionally, I want to take this opportunity to provide you with a few transportation-related updates for our district. First, I am pleased to let you know that the Drowning Creek Bridge project is nearing completion. Also, Patsy Road and Round Mountain Road in Estill County are set to be resurfaced in the future.

Looking Ahead: Ensuring our roads and bridges are safe and well-maintained is important to me because you, my constituents, rely on them every day to get to work, school, church, and home. While I can’t promise every project I requested funding for will receive funding, I will continue to advocate for our district’s transportation-related priorities and needs. Our district will not be neglected. 

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at Bill.Wesley@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.