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Work underway on new Hwy. 92 |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Friday, 26 February 2010 |
After nearly 30 years of promises, delays and bickering over project funding work began Monday on the relocation of State Highway 92 near Pine Knot.
After nearly 30 years of promises, delays and bickering over project funding work began Monday on the relocation of State Highway 92 near Pine Knot.
The project, struck from plans in recent years due to funding restraints, is now underway thanks to federal stimulus funding released through the Obama administration. Funding for the project was announced last year with a contract awarded to High View Construction of Corbin in December. The project, which will relocate KY 92 from its junction at KY 592 (Davis Hill) and U.S. 27 at the Cal Hill Spur intersection, is estimated to cost $13.7 million dollars.
This 6-mile section of roadway comes to fruition after completion and opening of a section of the road from Old Jellico Creek to Interstate-75 in Williamsburg. The middle section of the route was struck from construction plans issued by former Governor Ernie Fletcher by current Governor Steve Beshear. Beshear, however, has since put that portion of the project back into the state road plans at a cost of $40 million. Construction on that stage of the roadway is scheduled to take place in 2015.
McCreary Countians will not have to wait that long to drive on this end of the route. Construction is expected to take 11 months and opening of the road occur next spring though Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips said he has been given indication the road could be open to traffic earlier than 2011.
“From what I understand it is a fairly straightforward project and should not take too long, but the important fact right now is that after all this time we are seeing dirt being pushed around and work underway,” Judge Phillips said this week. “We have waited so long for this and it is exciting to know it is now a reality and not just something everyone is speculating about.” |
