PIKEVILLE, Ky. – In a county the size and as rural as Pike, roads are of the utmost importance. House Bill 292 outlines nearly $300 million in road projects, according to the Two-Year Road Plan contained in the House Budget.

HB 292 is sponsored by District 47 Representative Rick Rand (D), who is House Appropriations and Revenue Chairman, and includes projects that will be funded between 2010 and 2012. It is Rand’s belief that this legislation would give the citizens of Kentucky a road plan that will create a “more balanced state.”

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says the size of Pike County, its mileage of roads and the state’s current budget crisis makes any money allocated to counties even more desirable.

“Roads are important to Pike County – a county that has more miles of roads than any other county – and we have to fight for all the money we can get,” Rutherford said. “Rep. Leslie Combs, Rep. W. Keith Hall, who is a member of the appropriations committee, Rep. Hubert Collins, who is transportation committee chairman, and Sen. Ray Jones do all they can with the budget once it passes and they do the same with state bonding contributions.”

The nearly $300 million allocated for Pike County may seem like a high-dollar amount, Rutherford plans to push for even more money in the near future and says the current plan will be beneficial across the Commonwealth.

“It will pay dividends for our state and county road programs,” Rutherford said. “We are working with Sen. Ray Jones to get us more money as the budget bill moves through the Senate.”

Rutherford did express some disappointment because there was no money in the plan for the Mountain Parkway, noting no money for even planning, engineering or land acquisition.

Of the total amount of money going toward Pike County road projects, a large portion, $193 million, will go toward projects in fiscal year 2010. The projection for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 is $48 million and $57 million, respectively.

District12 Highway Department Chief Engineer Kevin Damron feels as though there are several benefits that could stem from the road plan.

“The plan seems to be positive for all of District 12, and specifically Pike County,” Damron said. “There will be over 30 bridge replacements in our seven-county district, and many of those in Pike County. There is renewed funding for U.S. 460 and U.S. 119 and several plans that will get stalled projects moving again.

Frank Hatcher, Pike County Road Commissioner, says he will take whatever the state gives the county.

“There’s nothing wrong with the two-year road plan that I can see,” Hatcher said. “All we can do is ask for what we need. Most of the projects listed in the plan seem to be bridges, but the state inspects our bridges and they know which ones need to be replaced. We will do what we can with whatever we get.”