Beech Tree News Network

Earlier this year Gov. Andy Beshear and Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman announced that $886,151 has been awarded to seven counties to enhance the safety of local roadways and support the reuse of waste tires through rubber-modified asphalt (RMA) projects.

The work in Butler County was completed today on one mile of Flat Rock Road.

Counties receiving grant funding include:

Butler County ($160,282) to resurface Flat Rock Road (CR 1204)

Hardin County ($135,864) to resurface Flint Hill Road (CR 1274)

Larue County ($159,616) to resurface Country Lane

McLean County ($56,250) to resurface Tram Road

Meade County ($139,080) to resurface Flaherty Road

Russell County ($133,388) to resurface Crocus Road

Todd County ($101,671) to resurface Henderson Road (CR 1235)

“Team Kentucky is working to build a better, safer New Kentucky Home, and we’re doing it in smart and efficient ways through projects like these that support our infrastructure and our environment,” said Gov. Beshear.

Selected roads have culverts, shoulders, and bases in good condition. The grant funding will be used for the application of asphalt overlay to the county roads. Thin asphalt overlays using rubber-modified asphalt have been shown to reduce noise, are more resistant to cracking and rutting, and increase the life of the roadway by 7 to 10 years.

According to Judge Tim Flener, this is the second (RMA) grant Butler County has received; the other road was Region Road.

“These partnerships provide a cost-effective, performance-enhancing additive for county paving projects and support the market for recycled tires, which can lead to better waste tire management across the commonwealth,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman.

As a condition of the grant funding, counties agree to pay for the application of conventional chip seal or thin overlay on a road in their county with similar characteristics, allowing for a comparison between traditional and rubber-modified asphalt.

The money for these projects comes from the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund, which receives $2 from every new tire sold in the commonwealth. Team Kentucky accepts applications for rubber-modified asphalt grants during March with a submittal deadline of April 1.

This is the ninth year RMA grants have been offered, funding projects valued at nearly $4.1 million in 34 counties since the program began.