Leaders in the Kentucky Senate are celebrating the awarding of a contract that will allow for the start of construction on the next phase of the ongoing I-75 widening project.
This will result in six lanes of traffic, three northbound and three southbound, between Exit 29 in southern Laurel County to just above the 23-mile point in Whitley County.
On Tuesday, the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus released a joint statement from Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, and Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, regarding the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) acceptance of a construction bid to widen this next segment of I-75.
“The I-75 corridor is the lifeline of southern and eastern Kentucky, and this project moves us one step closer to completing its transformation into a six-lane highway from the Tennessee border to Lexington,” the statement read. “Today’s contract award marks a major victory for our region. It will increase capacity, improve traffic safety, and unlock long-term economic growth across Laurel County, Whitley County, and the surrounding area.”
“We’re proud of the role the General Assembly played in advancing this project through every phase of the process. The legislature prioritized this widening effort in the 2024 Six-Year Highway Plan by committing more than $100 million to fund right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction. Without that support, this milestone would not have been possible.”
“We thank Congressman Hal Rogers, our federal delegation, our Senate Transportation Chair Jimmy Higdon and his House counterpart Ken Upchurch, and KYTC Transportation Secretary Jim Gray and his entire team for their continued partnership. This kind of investment doesn’t happen without collaboration at every level of government, and this moment reflects what’s possible when local leaders, lawmakers, and agencies work together to deliver for Kentucky families and businesses.”
Last week, the KYTC accepted a bid of $147.6 million from ATS Construction and Kay & Kay Contracting to widen a 5.9-mile stretch of I-75 from mile point 23.2 in Whitley County to mile point 28.9 in Laurel County, just north of US Highway 25 near Corbin.
The project was funded through a combination of federal National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) dollars and a 20 percent match from Kentucky’s road fund. It was programmed and prioritized by the General Assembly in the state’s 2024 Six-Year Highway Plan, which allocated more than $107 million across fiscal years 2024 through 2029.
Once this section is completed, only 23 miles remain to complete Kentucky’s six-lane I-75 corridor to the Tennessee border. Construction is expected to begin by this fall and support hundreds of jobs while strengthening a key transportation and commerce route for the entire region.
Find the bid online by visiting www.transportation.ky.gov/Construction-Procurement/Pages/Letting-Bids.aspx?letting=07/24/2025.
News updates pertaining to the project from KYTC District 11 can be found at www.transportation.ky.gov/DistrictEleven/Pages/default.aspx.
A regional press event celebrating this milestone will be held in London at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12.
The News Journal will provide coverage of the event inside the August 13 print edition.
