1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
2. SECTION 1. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
3. The General Assembly finds and declares that the Commonwealth of Kentucky must modernize its transportation infrastructure to ensure long‑term safety, economic competitiveness, and readiness for future interstate designation.
4. It is the intent of the Commonwealth to become an “Interstate‑Ready State” by constructing and upgrading state highways to interstate‑equivalent standards.
5. SECTION 2. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
6. All new state highway construction projects funded, administered, or permitted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet shall be designed, engineered, and constructed to meet or exceed current Federal Highway Administration interstate standards.
7. Interstate standards shall include, but not be limited to, full access control, grade‑separated interchanges, median separation, adequate shoulders, freight‑appropriate load ratings, and geometric design consistent with interstate requirements.
8. SECTION 3. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
9. All major repairs, rehabilitation projects, widening projects, or structural improvements on existing state highways shall be upgraded to interstate‑equivalent standards wherever engineering feasibility allows.
10. The Transportation Cabinet shall document any instance in which interstate‑equivalent upgrades are not feasible and shall provide justification in the project design file.
11. SECTION 4. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
12. For the purposes of Sections 2 and 3 of this Act, “major repairs” shall include, but not be limited to:
13. (a) Pavement reconstruction or full‑depth rehabilitation;
14. (b) Shoulder widening or reconstruction;
15. (c) Slope, embankment, or drainage correction;
16. (d) Intersection elimination or conversion to grade‑separated interchanges;
17. (e) Access consolidation or removal of at‑grade conflict points;
18. (f) Installation or upgrading of median barriers, guardrails, or safety systems.
19. SECTION 5. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
20. The Transportation Cabinet shall prioritize interstate‑standard upgrades on:
21. (a) High‑crash corridors;
22. (b) Primary freight and logistics routes;
23. (c) Appalachian regional connectors;
24. (d) Evacuation and emergency‑response corridors;
25. (e) Corridors identified for potential future interstate designation.
26. SECTION 6. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
27. The Transportation Cabinet shall incorporate interstate‑standard design requirements into all long‑range transportation plans, statewide mobility strategies, and project selection processes.
28. All planning documents shall reflect the Commonwealth’s intent to develop an interstate‑ready highway network.
29. SECTION 7. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
30. Interstate‑standard construction and upgrades shall be implemented in a manner that maximizes federal funding eligibility, reduces long‑term reconstruction costs, and ensures responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
31. SECTION 8. KRS CHAPTER 177 IS AMENDED TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
32. The Commonwealth of Kentucky hereby declares its intent to become an “Interstate‑Ready State,” ensuring that every major state corridor is constructed and maintained to interstate‑equivalent standards in preparation for future economic growth, regional connectivity, and public safety needs.
33. SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.
34. This Act shall take effect upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming law.
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