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New Kentucky road plan to fund several safety-oriented projects in Lexington

The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which includes Jessamine County, prepared a wish list of projects for state lawmakers. Director Chris Evilia says those that didn't receive funding during this year's General Assembly will be pursued in future sessions.
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The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which includes Jessamine County, prepared a wish list of projects for state lawmakers. Director Chris Evilia says those that didn't receive funding during this year's General Assembly will be pursued in future sessions.

The Kentucky General Assembly’s new road plan calls for tens of millions of dollars for projects designed to make some of Lexington’s key roadways safer. Chris Evilia is the director of the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. He said one big ticket item is $20 million to widen a stretch of Georgetown Road – a project that’s been in the works for almost two decades.

“The challenge is that actually crosses the interstate twice. And it's got a big offset. So kind of a big S curve. And we're seeing a lot of crashes in that section. So this is going to take care of some, a lot of that.”

Millions more will go towards a similar project on U.S. 60, between Lexington and Winchester. Evilia said there are also funds to design a new road they’re calling the Hamburg connector.

“With all the growth that's occurring on the east side of the interstate, along Polo Club in that area, we know that we're going to need more than just the access that Winchester Road or Man O’ War provides going across the interstate.”

Evilia said that new road, between Polo Club Boulevard and Sir Barton Way, will make bicycling and walking safer in that area – and improve access for Lex Tran. The road plan also has funds to reconstruct and widen Brannon Road from U.S. 68 to U.S. 27.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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