A 13-mile U.S. 421 expansion from Grays Knob the Virginia line that began in 1999 and stopped three miles short of its completion in 2004 would be finished under a Beshear administration, according to Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, the Democratic nominee for governor in the Nov. 5 election.

“It is going to be a priority in my administration, and I’m committed to getting the final three miles of 421 completed in a Beshear administration. I’m committed to Harlan County, and I recognize the importance of good roads to economic development,” Beshear said in a phone interview with the Enterprise. “For a county that I believe has been ignored by this governor, I want to make sure Harlan County has a seat at the table.

“I am going to prioritize infrastructure projects that open up entire regions and put people in good paying jobs, and that’s what the 421 project is. We only have a few miles to build on it and it opens up not just Harlan, but the rest of the region for commerce. It will help create jobs and boost local tourism and adventure tourism.”

Incumbent Matt Bevin was asked about U.S. 421 in a speech outside the Harlan County Courthouse during the Harlan County Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday.

“I do know it. It’s on my radar screen and if the dollars were there it would be done. But we don’t have the money – it’s the same challenge the city has, the county has and the state has,” said Bevin, who added that he was aware that improvements are needed to the old section of the road that goes up a mountain before entering Virginia. “It’s somewhere between the $10 of genuine need and $100 of desire. Let’s be honest, it’s somewhere in that range. It’s at the top end of the $10 and the bottom end of the $100. I’ve been on that road and, truth be told, it’s just that the people’s ability to get up and have views and things that they don’t get in any other part of our state.

“These kinds of things have the potential to be tourist attractions and draws for people. We have beautiful communities, so it’s important to make sure those roads are accessible to people. It’s not lost on me. I’ve driven up there and I know there’s need there. Heck, a part of our challenges have even been just keeping the road clear and keeping brush trimmed back and keeping ditching done. So, we’re trying to prioritize…U.S. 421 is on the radar screen and no one would like to see it more than I would, but it’s just going to be a function of priority.”

The last four sections of the project were completed in December 2004 as the new section of the road ended in Cranks. The state approved lifting another half-mile section of the road at Cranks out of the flood plain and work was completed in the early fall.

“The most recent project was the first dollars spent on 421 at Cranks in more than 15 years,” said Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley. “I’m grateful for this investment to keep this major thoroughfare that is heavily traveled open and safe during high water events. The citizens of Cranks should never be isolated from the rest of the county. This investment will see to it that they won’t be.”

Mosley said road projects in the county come down to priorities on the state level and noted that several other eastern Kentucky counties have benefited from new roads in recent years while Harlan continued to wait as perhaps the last county in eastern Kentucky without a highway, parkway or four-lane road going through it.

Beshear said he is also looking at upgrading U.S. 119 from its start in Pineville to Cumberland. The road is four lanes from Jenkins to Charleston, W.Va., even as it passes through several small counties in West Virginia.

“I can commit it will be a priority knowing how critical it is for our region,” he said. “We have some of the most dangerous rural roads in America. This is for both safety and commerce. While I can commit to getting 421 done, I will say 119 is a priority.”

Improved roads, according to Beshear, are crucial to the region’s economic growth.

“When I met with the Blackjewel miners, right after the company had not paid them, we met at the courthouse and one of the first things I was asked was if you win will you bring new jobs here,” Beshear said. “I told them absolutely because there aren’t enough good jobs in the region. If we are going to create those jobs in Harlan, you have to have the infrastructure to compete. That means good roads, broadband, water and sewage. I’m committed to working with Harlan to make sure they have a seat at the table to address those needs and we create good jobs there.”