CHAPEZE – The Interstate 65 corridor south of Louisville continues to see rapid growth.
This growth includes residential, commercial and industrial.
And with growth comes the need for infrastructure.
At a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, Bullitt County Judge/Executive Jerry Summers joined with the Louisville Water Co. officials to start a $60 million project to increase capacity locally and to Nelson, Hardin and Meade counties.
According to Jeremy Raney, director of engineering for LWC, the first of a seven-phase project will be to run a large distribution from the Salt River to a booster pump station at Chapeze Road, just west of Interstate 65.
Years ago, LWC began its partnership in Bullitt County to provide water capacity and fire hydrants to all areas.
Now, Raney said counties to the east and south are looking for an increased supply of water. The growth in the bourbon industry in Nelson County and the battery plant in Hardin County has increased the need for more water capacity.
When the seven phases of the project are complete, over 11 million gallons a day will be supplied to customers in Bullitt, Nelson, Hardin and Meade counties.
Construction on the first phase will begin in a couple of weeks and should be complete next fall. A second phase will involve going from the existing tank to Belmont. And the next would take a new line from Interstate 65 toward Nelson County.
In 2022, the state appropriated $35 million for the project. LWC will supply another $24.8 million from its capital project fund.
Summers said that the county received $5 million for its portion of the work and that was signed over to LWC. Similar agreements were in place for the city of Bardstown and the counties of Nelson, Hardin and Meade.
For Bullitt County, Summers said this increased supply of water will be a selling point for real estate experts and Bob Fouts, the county’s economic development director.
Major developments, such as the distilleries, need a high volume of water and need capacity for its fire suppression measures.
“This is a great thing for Bullitt County and the entire region,” said Summers. “This is an important piece for our infrastructure.”
Mac Construction will be the contractor on the project.
