McPherson, Wise secure over $35.7 million for road, bridge improvements in Allen County

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rep. Shawn McPherson, R-Scottsville, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, have secured more than $35.7 million for road and infrastructure improvements in Allen County.

According to a release Monday, major investments were included in House Bill 502, with a strong focus on improving key corridors and supporting economic development.

Key projects include the following, according to the release:

• $19.14 million to reconstruct KY Highway 100 from Simpson County to east of Sulphur Fork Creek.
• $11.78 million for additional improvements to KY Highway 100, including curves, bridges and intersections.
• $2.7 million for construction to improve connectivity within the Allen Springs Industrial Park.
• $1.07 million for a bridge replacement on Jefferson School Road.
• The biennial road plan also includes additional supporting phases in Allen County, including right-of-way and utility coordination work associated with major corridor improvements and local access projects.

McPherson said the scale of investment reflects the importance of Allen County’s transportation network.

“These are the kinds of projects that really move the needle for a community,” McPherson said. “Whether it’s improving KY Highway 100 or supporting industrial growth, this funding puts Allen County in a strong position moving forward.”

Wise said infrastructure plays a key role in economic opportunity.

“These investments are about making Allen County more competitive and better connected,” Wise said. “We worked to prioritize projects that support both safety and long-term economic growth. This progress would not be possible without the great work of lawmakers like Rep. McPherson.”

Additionally, $659,000 was secured through the Local Assistance Road Program for resurfacing projects across the county. Those include the following:

• $211,000 to resurface Halifax-Bailey Road,
• $181,000 to resurface Trice Road,
• $106,000 to resurface Maysville Road,
• $103,000 to resurface West Old State Road,
• $42,000 to resurface McDonald Road and
• $16,000 to resurface Ramble Creek Road.

Additional funding opportunities for local governments

In addition to project-specific funding, the budget includes several grant opportunities available to local governments, such as:

• $50 million over the next two years for the County-City Bridge Improvement Program,
• $24 million in fiscal year 2027 for a new matching grant program for counties and cities and
  additional funding in fiscal year 2028 through the state’s revenue-sharing formulas for counties and municipalities.

The state road plan includes a $4.6 billion biennial road plan alongside a $7 billion transportation operating budget, ensuring that projects can move forward without delays or overpromising state resources. These two major pieces of transportation-related legislation maintained a disciplined approach focused on delivering projects ready for construction and improving infrastructure across communities statewide.

The biennial road plan is fully funded, with no overprogramming of state dollars, increasing the likelihood that projects included in the plan can be completed within the budget cycle.

Wise made note of the many contributions by Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon and Senate Transportation chair, who will retire from the state Senate at the end of his term in December.

“In every county across Kentucky, as constituents hear news of investments, and they begin to see the movement of earth in project construction, I want them to know that it is in no small part because of the incredible work of Jimmy Higdon,” Wise said. “For numerous budget sessions, Jimmy has been a leading voice. Without him, one-time general fund dollars to boost the road plan and, in turn, projects statewide simply would not have happened. Without him, our road plan would not have been balanced to ensure dollars allocated were for construction-ready jobs. We are all so grateful to Jimmy. He will be missed in future sessions, but he has earned a well-deserved retirement.”