Gov. Beshear Celebrates Next Phase of Construction at Skyview High-Ground Site in Perry County

Skyview Lane improvements will provide suitable access road for housing construction teams and future residents

HAZARD, Ky. (July 26, 2024) - Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and local officials gathered near Hazard today to celebrate the progress of the first phase of road construction to widen and improve a half-mile portion of Skyview Lane, making way for contractors to safely access the Skyview high-ground community and begin site preparation for the future housing development.

A second, $12.7 million phase for the road project was awarded in June, and the contractor has begun site-clearing operations in preparation for paving the access road, grading residential lots for the new homes and construction of residential streets within the neighborhood.

In February, Gov. Beshear announced that the state had acquired 50 acres of donated land from the Ison family to build more than 100 new, single-family homes for flood survivors and ground was broken on the initial road project to upgrade more than one-half mile of the existing gravel road. The Phase II contractor has started clearing vegetation in some locations and mobilizing crews and heavy equipment to the site.

"It's exciting to see such progress right before our eyes as we charge forward on our pledge to build new homes that symbolize new beginnings for Eastern Kentuckians," said Gov. Beshear. "This road will help construction crews access the new housing site to prepare it for construction and allow crews to construct streets within the residential community that will lead to the doorsteps of these new homes built for so many deserving families."

"The Skyview community is a prime location for future families that's five minutes from downtown Hazard and close to schools, shopping and a medical center," said Lt. Gov. Coleman. "This project will open up more acreage that will be privately developed, providing access to homes for many more people in one community."

Utility work will be coordinated with roadway work to streamline construction activities and reduce construction time. Necessary sewer and water construction will be part of a separate contract that is expected to be awarded in August. Housing construction is expected to begin in late 2024, and road construction is targeted to end in the fall of 2025, as paving of the access road and streets will give future residents a smooth, safe ride into the community.

In the coming days, KeeTech Construction Horizontal will be completing the $1 million Phase I project. The Phase II project was awarded to Frederick & May Construction.

"We're proud to be part of the team that's committed to helping Eastern Kentuckians rebuild their homes and lives," said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. "These roads will pave the way to brighter futures and improve the quality of life for residents."

Perry County Judge/Executive Scott Alexander said, "Today is a day of progress for our people. We're committed to rebuilding our communities better than before, and we're getting closer to achieving that goal every day. We'll keep working toward a brighter future for all of our people."

"As we continue to rebuild from the floods, we need to celebrate progress and days like today," said Hazard Mayor Donald "Happy" Mobelini. "We're one step closer to building an entirely new neighborhood for our people, so they never need to worry about flooding again. We're ensuring that our people are safe and can live here for years to come."

Visit To Mark Two-Year Anniversary of Eastern Kentucky Flooding
The Governor provided an update on Thursday regarding recovery and rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky as we approach the two-year anniversary of the devastating floods. Progress includes:

• FEMA has approved Individual Assistance for 8,775 survivors, totaling more than $110.5 million under the Individual and Households Program.
• FEMA has provided over $84.7 million to acquire over 500 homes and help families move out of flood prone areas in five counties.
• 138 bridges have been either repaired or replaced.
• $297 million has been secured in federal disaster recovery funds to help areas rebuild.
• The Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund has raised more than $13.4 million from over 41,500 donors. The fund paid the funeral expenses of the Kentuckians we lost, provided immediate relief payments directly to individuals who suffered property damage and is now being used to rebuild and repair homes with nonprofit partners.
• The Governor has announced seven high-ground communities in four counties that will bring over 500 new homes to the area.

Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman are traveling to Breathitt, Floyd and Perry counties today, with two stops in Knott County, at Leburn and Hindman, to observe progress at new high-ground communities, note improvements to infrastructure, announce new funding and an additional project to build more homes, and mourn those Kentuckians lost in the devastating flooding that occurred two years ago.

Earlier today in Wayland, in Floyd County, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor joined Appalachia Service Project to celebrate new homes and new beginnings for 11 families of flood survivors and announced that more new homes are on the way. Click here to learn more about the visit and progress being made at new high-ground communities in Eastern Kentucky.

Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Coleman stopped in Floyd County to check on the progress of the Chestnut Ridge high-ground community in Leburn and to pay their respects during a moment of silence at a memorial erected in Hindman last summer in remembrance of those Knott Countians who died in the flooding.

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