LEXINGTON, KY — Progress continues in Fayette County as work is now underway to expand another section of an Interstate Highway 75 widening project that improves safety and mobility for travelers along the high-traffic corridor. A second, $47 million widening project will add a travel lane in each direction of I-75 from Paris Pike/U.S. Highway 27 to the Interstate Highway 64/I-75 southern split in Lexington.

The new project builds on a $42 million widening project that began in 2022 from Newtown Pike to Paris Pike. Together, these projects will reduce congestion along the corridor via a new, improved eight-lane highway. A new barrier wall along the length of the project will further enhance safety in the corridor.

“We are building our new Kentucky home, and that includes not just great economic opportunities, but great highways that lead there,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This project will significantly improve interstate capacity, safety, and travel times for everyone who drives this important economic corridor.”

The combined four-mile, $89 million project is crucial to addressing increased traffic as well as anticipated continued population growth in Fayette and surrounding counties. Projections show traffic on this section will exceed 130,000 vehicles per day by 2040, well beyond the capacity of the current six-lane highway.

“The orange barrels around Lexington are a signal to businesses and residents that improved commutes are ahead,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said. “Crews are committed to maintaining traffic during the majority of the two interstate widening projects while we work to upgrade the route.”

KYTC awarded the $47 million contract to L-M Asphalt Partners Ltd., and the project is expected to be complete in June 2026. Work on the new section of I-75/I-64 (Paris Pike Exit 113 to mile marker 111) will take place while the same contractor works on the first widening project (Newtown Pike Exit 115 to Paris Pike Exit 113), expected to be complete this November.