The long awaited final extension of the bypass around Elizabethtown got a big step toward completion Wednesday morning when Governor Beshear presented a $4.5 million check to the city for pre-construction funding.
The money represents estimates in the 2014 Highway Plan for right-of-way acquisition and utilities work for the final Ring Road segment.
The concept of a Ring Road bypass goes back to planning studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The project first appeared in the Kentucky Highway Plan in 1998 and has been built in stages,initially as a two-lane road but since widened to five lanes and now providing access to commercial and industrial business sites.
It currently runs from U.S. 31W, around the western side of Elizabethtown to connect with the Western Kentucky Parkway. The final extension will connect with I-65.
Beshear was joined by fellow Democrat, State Rep. Jimmie Lee at this morning’s announcement. Lee is facing Republican Jim DuPlessis in next week’s election.
It’s one of several stops the Governor has made where Democratic challengers are facing Republican incumbents in state races.
