Perry County Wendell H. Ford Airport Access Road Letting January 29, 2026

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opened the letting for Proposal 306-PERRY-26-1103 on January 29, 2026, seeking construction bids for a new access road to the Wendell H. Ford Airport in Perry County. Officials say the route is intended to replace a substandard approach and improve connections between KY 15, the Coalfields Industrial Park area, and the airport.

KYTC’s posted proposal lists the project as “WENDELL H. FORD AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD (NEW ROUTE)” and gives a project distance of roughly 0.94 miles. Earlier public materials and local reporting described a longer alignment, however: WMKY reported the route would stretch 1.74 miles from the intersection of KY 15 and Trus Joist Road near the Coalfields Industrial Park to the airport, and WYMT cited “nearly 1.75 miles.” WMKY also reported a construction cost estimate of $12.4 million and said the 2022 General Assembly allocated $1.65 million for right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation.

Project planners describe the work as a safety and access improvement. Transportation Ky summarized the project purpose this way: “The purpose of this project is to improve access to the Wendell H Ford Airport in Hazard due to substandard conditions along the existing road including” and WMKY described the existing approach as “narrow, steep, and prone to breaks in pavement.” Design details reported in 2022 call for a 40 mph design speed, 11-foot lanes, 4-foot paved shoulders, and maximum grades no more than 5 percent. The work is also expected to include improvements to the intersection of KY 15 and Trus Joist Road or Lane.

Public outreach began in October 2022. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s October 3, 2022 press release headlined “Public meeting scheduled to discuss new access road to Perry County airport” announced an open house on October 11 at County Line Community Church, 12639 KY 15, Chavies, at the Perry-Breathitt line. WMKY reported that approximately 30 people, including local elected officials and residents, attended that Oct. 11 meeting and that design and environmental studies were then underway.

The differing figures on route length and timing underscore a shift between early design materials and the contract language now before bidders. WMKY’s 2022 coverage included a timeline that targeted construction to begin no later than 2024; the January 29, 2026 letting indicates procurement is taking place later than that initial target. The KYTC proposal posting and the letting move the project into the procurement phase, but the proposal excerpt does not identify whether the letting covers the full alignment, a segment, or a re-solicitation.

Local implications are practical and immediate: a rebuilt access road would reduce safety risks for airport users, truck traffic serving the Coalfields Industrial Park, and residents in subdivisions adjacent to the airport. The appropriation for right-of-way and utility relocation means property acquisitions and utility moves may appear next in the landscape, followed by visible construction activity if bids are awarded and a contract signed.

Reporters and residents seeking documents or clarification can contact Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 10 media contact H.B. Elkins at 606-666-8841 (switchboard), 502-764-0018 (direct), or HB.Elkins@ky.gov. The disparity between the 0.94-mile figure in the KYTC proposal and earlier 1.74–1.75 mile descriptions will be a key detail to confirm as the project progresses. For Perry County readers, the letting is a concrete step toward a safer route to the Wendell H. Ford Airport and signals more construction and right-of-way activity to watch for in the coming months.