ELSMERE — Up to $10 million in federal funds will be spent to widen Industrial Road in Kenton and Boone counties, U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R.-Ky., announced Friday.

        More than 200 companies employing about 14,000 workers are based in the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park. Industrial Road is the main route through the park, running from U.S. 42 to Turkeyfoot Road.

        “The Northern Kentucky Industrial Park is among the largest in the commonwealth, and it has become evident that without significant transportation changes, there is simply insufficient access to available sites for development,” Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd said.

        The date for construction has not been set. Local officials from Boone and Kenton counties and from the cities of Elsmere and Florence plan to meet soon to discuss a construction timetable with the state, Mr. Murgatroyd said. Mr. Bunning sent a letter Friday to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, informing officials there that federal money will be avail able to widen the road.

        “Widening Industrial Road from two lanes to five lanes will not only ease congestion, but also help to continue to fuel the economic growth in Northern Kentucky that has proved vital to business throughout the commonwealth,” Mr. Bunning said in a statement.

        Local officials including Mr. Murgatroyd sought Mr. Bunning's help on the project because of a lack of state funding for road projects. Other officials involved in clude Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore, Florence Mayor Diane Whalen, Independence Mayor Tom Kriege and Elsmere Mayor Billy Bradford.

        “The federal contribution to this project could be as much as $8 million to $10 million over the next several years,” said Mr. Bunning, of Southgate. “I understand that the commonwealth is going through difficult budgetary times, and I am glad to be able to help.”

        Kentucky's current budget is showing a $230 million shortfall caused by declining tax revenues and the slowing economy. The General Assembly is still negotiating the terms of a lean two-year budget plan for the next two fiscal years. Gov. Paul Patton and has cautioned that many road projects will go unfunded .

        Local governments will spend $2 million on the Industrial Road project.

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