Gov. Beshear Announces More Than $475,000 To Improve Roadways

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 22, 2026) – Gov. Andy Beshear today announced $475,224 in new funding to resurface roads and improve driver safety in Russell County, Hardin County and Caldwell County. 

“Every Kentucky family deserves access to safe roads so they can get to work, school, or that next doctor’s appointment,” said Gov. Beshear. “This program is allowing us to deliver safer, longer-lasting roads for our people while helping reduce waste in the process.” 

The grants, awarded through the Division of Waste Management’s Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA) Program, use rubber-modified asphalt, created in part from recycled waste tires, to make roads quieter, more durable, and more resistant to tough weather conditions, extending the lifespan of roads by 7 to 10 years and supporting responsible waste tire management. 

Now in its eleventh year, Kentucky’s RMA grant program has funded nearly $4.9 million in projects across 35 counties. This year’s grants will fund rubber-modified asphalt (RMA) projects in: 

• Russell County ($148,800) to resurface Clifty Creek Road
• Hardin County ($162,624) to resurface Springfield Road (CR 1031)
• Caldwell County ($163,800) to resurface Carner Hill Road 

“These projects are a dual benefit,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary John Lyons. “We’re helping counties stretch their road budgets further while turning an environmental challenge into a resource.” 

In Butler County, a recent RMA grant was used to repave Flat Rock Road—an important connector between state highways and a critical emergency and school bus route.

As highlighted in a local news report, the county resurfaced different sections of the road with both conventional and rubber-modified asphalt for comparison. Butler County Judge-Executive Tim Flener noted that RMA “has a few more benefits,” including improved durability and performance on key routes.

The project is helping keep recycled tires out of landfills while making essential roads safer for families and school buses traveling between Highway 79 and Highway 70. 

Funding for these grants comes from the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund, which receives $2 from every new tire sold in Kentucky. As part of the program, each county also resurfaces a comparable road with conventional materials, allowing state officials to track the performance of RMA over time. 

Applications for next year’s RMA grants will open in March of 2027.

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