Gov. Ernie Fletcher was on hand Wednesday afternoon for the dedication of the route Interstate 66 will take through Barren County.
I-66, a corridor spanning from the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia to the Mississippi River Valley, will follow the path of the Louie B. Nunn Parkway.
"I-66 will help us bring in more tourists," he told a group who had gathered for the dedication ceremony at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's maintenance garage on Cavalry Drive in Glasgow. "It will help us open parts of the state that haven't been as open. When I first took office, we had this vision: safe, reliable transportation that supports Kentucky's future, improved economic growth and an overall improved quality of life."
And Fletcher, along with other state officials, believe I-66 accomplishes that goal.
"The I-66 corridor supports the idea to bring new growth to all people of Kentucky," said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert.
It will provide "opportunity for the young people of southern Kentucky by creating the potential for new jobs," he said.
It will also improve safety for motorists in reducing travel time and link three major north-south corridors -- I-65, I-75, and I-81, Nighbert said.
Signs proclaiming the route I-66 will take were unveiled during the ceremony, which was also attended by Sen. Richie Sanders (R-Franklin), Barren County Judge-Executive Davie Greer and Mayor Darrell Pickett.
"I'm very, very proud to be standing before you as part of this new experience Glasgow and Barren County are going through," Greer said. "I-66 will be wonderful. We're going to see some major development."
And Sanders agreed. He pointed out Glasgow has gained $40 million worth of private development with the construction of the first phase of the new outer loop.
"I've never seen a road that was freshly coated with blacktop that something good didn't happen," he said.
When development occurs, more jobs are created, said Pickett, and more jobs generates more revenue for the city.
"Once this new interstate comes through our community, it will no doubt create jobs and create growth," he said. "As elected officials, we like to see that. As I told the governor a few moments ago, we like revenue. Anytime we can bring revenue to our state, it's a good thing."
In addition to unveiling the I-66 signs, Fletcher made announcements concerning funding for additional area road projects.
He announced that $50 million in county road bonds will be released to all 120 Kentucky counties, and $25 million in municipal road bonds will be released to 419 eligible cities across the state.
The release of the bonds is the result of the Kentucky General Assembly's recent passage of the 2005-06 budget, which included $150 million in bonds for county and city roads and bridges, according to Michael Goins with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Fletcher called the bond program "unique" Wednesday.
"We across this state have bridges that are in very poor repair. We have roads that need repair. Our fatality rate on our highways are some of the highest we've ever had and some of the highest in the nation," he said. "When you look at our fatality rate some of that stems from the fact that our highways need repair, and this $150 million, in addition to the other $350 million that we put in, will provide a great deal of resources."
Barren County will receive $606,298.21 from the County Aid Program, and the city of Glasgow will receive $172,187.95 from the $25 million Municipal Aid Program.
Adding the two figures together, plus what the city and county received in 2004, totals to around $1.2 million.
"I think that's an outstanding and unprecedented number for Barren County. I'm sure you've got a lot of projects in demand that will allow you to use that to create economic opportunities," Fletcher said.
In addition to funding made available through the County and Municipal Aid Programs, Fletcher announced an additional $1 million in funding to be used for improvements to the entrance of the Highland Glen Industrial Site on U.S. 68/80, and the section of the new outer loop that is currently under construction.
"We want to work with the community in economic development to continue attracting jobs," he said.
Other funding, close to $67 million, scheduled to come down the pike for Glasgow and Barren County road projects, such as the construction of the third phase of the outer loop that will connect U.S. 31-W to the Louie B. Nunn Parkway, improvements on Ky. 90 East, and reconstruction of Ky. 70.
Fletcher also pointed out the area is scheduled to receive $2 million to upgrade the Glasgow State Nursing Facility, $2 million for water projects and $114 million in Phase Two Tobacco Funds.
Gov. Ernie Fletcher was on hand Wednesday afternoon for the dedication of the route Interstate 66 will take through Barren County.