By Genie Graf, Building Kentucky
Today, Governor Andy Beshear joined state and local officials to announce plans for the final section of the Mountain Parkway Expansion in eastern Kentucky – delivering on a decades-old promise to complete a four-lane parkway from Winchester to far eastern Kentucky.
Mountain Parkway Expansion
Plans are now underway to build 13 additional miles of the Mountain Parkway in eastern Magoffin County through Floyd County. This will support economic development opportunities in the area and provide a safer route for motorists in the region.
“I am proud to say we are delivering on plans to complete a four-lane Mountain Parkway. Expanding the parkway to far eastern Kentucky has been talked about since Gov. Bert Combs broke ground on the original parkway in 1963,” Gov. Beshear said. “Today, we are once again standing with eastern Kentucky by building a parkway that is crucial to Appalachia’s strong economic future.”
Since the Parkway Expansion project began in 2014, nearly 32 miles of parkway widening have been completed or are under construction. The Magoffin-Floyd section would extend from U.S. Highway 460 in Salyersville to Kentucky Highway 404 in Prestonsburg along a cross-country route. This option will cause fewer disruptions and property impacts to homes and businesses versus expanding the parkway along the current Kentucky Highway 114 corridor.
To advance this final segment of the Mountain Parkway Expansion to construction, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and its partners are collecting more detailed environmental and geotechnical information from the cross-country corridor. This includes crews performing surveys, archaeological and historical studies and biological research.
KYTC is working closely with the Federal Highway Administration to follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and other federal laws and policies. The cabinet will schedule a public information meeting by early 2023 to provide more details about the project.
“We are committed to seeing the Mountain Parkway completed,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “Once finished, the Mountain Parkway will be a safer, 90-mile corridor to prosperity from Winchester to Prestonsburg.”
“This expansion is going to help our businesses and people by creating a safer, more efficient corridor for Magoffin County,” said Magoffin County Judge/Executive Matt Wireman. “This is good news for our region, and we are thankful for the prioritization of this project.”
“As the final leg of the Mountain Parkway from Salyersville to Prestonsburg starts to become a reality, I would like to thank Gov. Beshear for his hard work,” said Floyd County Judge/Executive Robbie Williams. “This project and the confirmation of the new cross-country route will be a huge shot in the arm for eastern Kentucky. On behalf of myself and all the residents of eastern Kentucky, thank you Governor Beshear.”
Gov. Beshear is committed to building a better Kentucky through transportation to improve safety, spur the economy and improve the quality of life for Kentuckians. In August, ground was broken for the $97.1 million Wolfe County segment of the Mountain Parkway. It is expected to be completed by 2027.
Mountain Parkway Construction Timeline
- Wolfe County | 11 miles | August 2022 – under construction, anticipated completion 2027
- Morgan County | 8.2 miles | 2017-2021
- Magoffin County West | 4.6 miles | 2019 – under construction, anticipated completion 2023
- Magoffin County Central | 5.7 miles | 2015-2018
- Salyersville Restaurant Row | 2.4 miles | 2016-2019
- Magoffin-Floyd | 13 miles | Under development
For updates about the project, follow the Mountain Parkway Expansion on both Facebook and Twitter, or visit the project website at mtnparkway.com.
