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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor Beshear breaks ground for new U.S. 460 in Pike County
‘We’re completing a dream’ with $500 million project to finish Appalachian corridor
PIKEVILLE, Ky.– Gov. Steve Beshear today broke ground for the reconstruction of U.S. 460 in Pike County – a $500 million project to complete a corridor of the Appalachian Development Highway System in eastern and southeastern Kentucky.
“We’re not just completing a highway. We’re completing a dream,” Gov. Beshear said during a ceremony at a site where the new highway will have ramps to access Elkhorn City.
“The current U.S. 460 opened up this region decades ago. But it can no longer meet the needs of modern transportation, and it poses an obstacle to economic development,” Gov. Beshear said. “The new U.S. 460 will give those who live in this region, or travel through it, something they badly need – a modern and safer four-lane highway.”
The new U.S. 460 will cover 16 miles from U.S. 23, south of Pikeville, to the Virginia line near Breaks Interstate Park. The highway will have depressed medians, wide shoulders and partially controlled access. It is just a notch below standards for interstates and parkways, which are fully controlled access.
“This is a good day for the residents of eastern and southeastern Kentucky. The reconstruction of U.S. 460 and the completion of the corridor of the Appalachian Development Highway System are important to the economic development of this region,” said Sen. Ray Jones of Pikeville. “We must build roads -- good roads -- to bring people to our community. This project is significant to making our region more accessible to the traveling public. The reconstruction of U.S. 460 and the completion of the corridor will also improve travel and make travel safer for the people who live in this part of the state.”
Completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System is a top priority of the 13-state Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Gov. Beshear is the 2011 states’ co-chair of the commission, serving with a federal co-chair.
“This is a major stretch of highway that the citizens of the area have been looking forward to for many years,” said Rep. Leslie Combs of Pikeville. “To say that I’m glad that the state was able to put up its match to make this possible is an understatement. This will make a positive difference in our lives for decades to come.”
“This project will really help open up the region, so I’m very happy that we could get this contract underway and put the federal dollars to good use,” said Rep. Hubert Collins of Wittensville. “It’s a major step forward for those of us who depend on this road.”
“I am very elated about the progress of U.S. 460. This will be instrumental in moving Pike County forward and will greatly improve the way we transport our people and goods and services,” said Rep. Keith Hall of Phelps. “We continue to move mountains for our people, and that enriches all facets of our daily lives here in the mountains.”
The Appalachian Development Highway System, authorized by Congress in 1965, was part of a sweeping program to bring modern roads and economic growth to a vast region isolated for most of its history because of terrain. The entire system is 3,090 miles in the 13 ARC states. Kentucky’s portion was 426 miles, of which 395 miles has been completed on various routes.
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