Senate Budget Chair Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, made another stop on his tour of organizations and projects benefiting from transformative funding through the 2024 state budget.
On Monday, he met with City of Erlanger officials and toured the location of the Stevenson Road project, which will move forward thanks to the $30.63 million McDaniel secured in the state road plan. The project will reconstruct KY Highway 236 (Stevenson Road) from Alice Street to Jacqueline Drive. This project received general funds due to the Senate’s proposed $450 million from the state’s BRTF in HB 1. The project is in conjunction with the county and City of Erlanger’s sewer and water line project along the road.
“The Stevenson Road project is vital to improving the safety and connectivity of our infrastructure, ensuring our growing community has the support it needs for years to come,” said Mayor Jessica Fette. “This project will not only enhance quality of life for residents but also create new economic development opportunities in the area. We are especially grateful for Senator McDaniel’s leadership in securing the funding, as well as the efforts of all those who worked alongside him to make this project a reality. Together, we are delivering a well-planned roadway that benefits both residents and businesses, fostering continued growth in Erlanger.”
“The legislature’s conservative and responsible use of taxpayer dollars presented us with the opportunity in the 2024-2026 budget to make transformative and critical one-time investments,” McDaniel said. “I was happy to work with our Senate Transportation Chair Jimmy Higdon and colleagues in the state House of Representatives to secure hundreds of millions of dollars from the substantial budget reserve trust fund (BRTF) we have replenished to prioritize road projects across the commonwealth, including Stevenson Road and others in high-growth areas like Kenton County.”
A McDaniel and Senate-led proposal in House Bill 1 included $450 million in the state’s two-year road plan to support high-growth regions such as Kenton County in the state’s golden triangle. HB 1 leveraged $2.7 billion from the state’s BRTF for transformational one-time investments, including the $450 million boost to road projects.
“I want to thank the City of Erlanger for being a partner in this effort and all who will have a hand in completing this project,” McDaniel added. “It was great to be on site today and witness the efforts firsthand alongside those I know will be working tirelessly to complete and oversee the project.”
Other Kenton County infrastructure projects projects include:
• More than $21.4 million to support four bridge projects in the county.
• $12.5 million to improve safety and reduce congestion on KY Highway 17 at the Interstate 275 interchange.
• $8 million to improve alignment with Buttermilk Pike, Orphanage Road, and US Highway 25.
• $2.19 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct US Highway 25 from Buttermilk Pike to Interstate 75 (mile point 8.58 to 9.86), and $2.06 million to resurface and repair the median on KY Highway 17 from Pioneer Park to Kyles Lane.
Legislative Research Commission