Ky. to spend $3.6M on roads near motor speedway

SPARTA, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear says the state will make $3.6 million in road improvements around the Kentucky Speedway racetrack where massive traffic jams marred a Sprint Cup race in July.

Beshear joined Kentucky Speedway officials Tuesday at a news conference at the northern Kentucky track where scores of disgruntled fans spent hours in traffic jams during the track's first Sprint Cup race in July.

Speedway Motorsports officials say the company has already purchased a 143-acre parcel of land that will be turned into 35 percent more parking. Road construction vehicles on the parcel across the Interstate 71 could be seen tearing down an old barn during the news conference.

The track is also planning to hire a professional parking and engineering service to handle traffic flow during events.