US 421

Both Kentucky and Indiana have applied for federal money to apply to two Ohio River bridge projects: the replacement of the US 421 bridge over the Ohio River between Milton, Kentucky and Madion, Indiana and the redecking of the Big Four Bridge over the Ohio River in downtown Louisville: Louisville Courier-Journal: $25 million in stimulus money sought for Big Four Bridge (Sept. 24, 2009) 

Inspectors have found the US 421 bridge over the Ohio River between Milton, Kentucky and Madison, Indiana to be in as bad or worse condition than it was before last being rehabilitated in 1997. Repairs to the bridge could force an 18 month closure of the span: Associated Press: 80-year-old Ohio River bridge found in poor shape (Sept. 14, 2009) , Louisville Courier-Journal: Bridge across Ohio River in poor shape (Sept. 14, 2009) 

Kentucky and Indiana will apply for federal money to replace the narrow bridge carrying US 421 over the Ohio River between Madison, Indiana and Milton, Kentucky. If approved, the plan is demolish the current bridge and build a similar looking, wider bridge in its place using the existing piers. Weight restrictions were placed on the existing bridge earlier this year due to what was described as advanced deterioration.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Ky., Ind. to seek stimulus money to replace U.S. 421 bridge (Aug. 14, 2009) , Louisville Courier-Journal: States to seek stimulus grant for replacement Madison-Milton bridge (Aug. 14, 2009) 

The US 421 bridge over the Ohio River at Milton in Trimble County has been placed off limits to trucks weighing more than 15 tons after a December inspection found "advanced deterioration on various components of the bridge."

More information: Associated Press: Bridge inspection leads to weight restriction (March 31, 2009 , Louisville Courier-Journal: 15-ton limit set on U.S. 421 bridge over Ohio River (April 1, 2009) 

A committee in the Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill that would create a commission coordinate activities related to the construction of two new Interstate bridges over the Ohio River near Louisville and a new bridge to replace the US 421 bridge over the Ohio River between Milton, KY and Madison, IN.

More information: Associated Press: Commission proposed to focus on Ohio River bridges (Jan. 30, 2009) , Louisville Courier-Journal: Indiana panel may focus on Ohio River bridges (Jan. 30, 2009) 

Update Feb. 12, 2008: The bill has passed in the Indiana House: Louisville Courier-Journal: Ind. House passes bridge commission bill (Feb. 12, 2009) 

Reader Jamie Middleton has submitted a set of photographs documenting the recently reconstructed section of US 421 in Harlan County. Thanks Jamie!

A new bridge on Leestown Road in Lexington opened a week ahead of schedule in July. Work began on the bridge in April.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Leestown Road bridge opens early (July 2, 2005) 

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held recently for a newly constructed segment of US 421 in Harlan County: WYMT Mountain News: Section of Major Road is Complete (Jan. 22, 2005) 

The October 2004 and the 2004 Year-in-Review editions of the transportation cabinet’s newsletter have been posted to the KYTC Konnection page .

Among stories covered in the October 2004 edition are:

• The SAFE program that aids broken down motorists.
• Information about a KYTC employee’s trip to Russia to participate in an engineering exchange program.
• Coverage of the installation of new “Move Over or Slow Down for Stopped Emergency Vehicle” signs.
• Coverage of ceremonial beginning of the Kennedy Bridge repainting project.
• A story about KYTC employees rescuing a cat from an Ohio River bridge.
• Information about the opening of a reconstructed segment of US 421 in Harlan County.

Download: [Transportation Konnection – October 2004] (2.51 MB)

Among stories covered in the 2004 Year-in-Review edition are:

• Information and photographs of work on I-66 in Pulaski County.

Download: [Transportation Konnection – 2004 Year-in-Review] (2.32 MB)

WKYT and WYMT provides some information about three-phase plan to construct a new route between Harlan and Hazard: WKYT: U.S. 421 Improvement Project (Nov. 17, 2004) , WYMT: Improvements to a Dangerous Road May Be in the Near Future (Nov. 17, 2004) 

On Thursday, November 18, 2004 the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting to discuss improvements to US 421 from the interchange with I-71 in Henry County to Bedford in Trimble County. The meeting will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Bedford Elementary School.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: To Discuss A Study for the Improvement of US 421 From I-71 To Bedford 

New elk warnings sings will be places along some roads in Eastern Kentucky. Since elk were reintroduced into Kentucky in 1997, there have been 55 vehicle-elk collision. Some of the signs will replace signs that have previously been stolen.

More information: Associated Press: Elk-crossing signs going up on some state roads (Aug. 17, 2004) 

The 60-day regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly ended on April 13. Thirteen bills relating to transportation were passed into law during the 2004 regular session. Click “read full text” below for summaries of each bill.

[Read Full Text]

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled a number of public meetings to discuss road projects across the state.

• US 421: On March 18 from 5pm to 7pm a meeting will be held at Sandgap Elementary School in Sandgap to discuss the reconstruction of US 421 from McKee to the Rockcastle County line. [more information ]
• KY 313: On April 12 from 5:30pm to 8pm a meeting will be held at Flaherty Elementary School in Ekron to discuss an extension to KY 313 from Vine Grove to Brandenburg.
• US 460: On April 27 from 5pm to 8pm a meeting will be held at Camargo Elementary School in Jeffersonville to discuss the reconstruction of US 460 from Jeffersonville to Means.

New information about several projects has been added to the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Planning website:

• US 421 Reconstruction in Jackson County 
• US 641 Widening in Caldwell and Lyon County 
• New Taylorsville Northwest Connector Route in Spencer County 
• New Leitchfield Bypass in Grayson County 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled the following public meetings to discuss various road projects in Kentucky:

• September 29 and 30 - Study US 641 in Lyon and Caldwell Counties: KYTC Division of Planning: US 641 
• October 9 - New interchange on I-65 in northern Warren County: KYTC: I-65/US 31W Connector Public Meeting Notice 
• October 9 - New KY 6 connector for Woodbine to Corbin Bypass in Knox and Whitley Counties: KYTC: KY 6 Public Meeting Notice 
• October 21 - Study US 421 in Jackson County: KYTC Division of Planning: US 421 Meeting Announcement 
• October 23 - Eastern Nicholasville Bypass in Jessamine County: KYTC: Eastern Jessamine Public Meeting Notice 
• November 6 - Rock fall correction and flood mitigation on KY 1964 in Woodford County: KYTC: Clifton Road Public Meeting Notice 

More information: Kentucky New Era (Hopkinsville): Public invited to view proposed U.S. 641 plans (Sept. 16, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Interchange Meeting Set (Sept. 26, 2003) 

A section of US 421 in Petty and Harlan Counties has been renamed in memory of WYMT-TV news anchor Tony Turner. Turner died on June 30, 2002 of injuries sustained during a car accident three weeks earlier.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Portion of U. S. 421 is Now the Tony Turner Memorial Highway (June 27, 2003) 

1.3 miles of Richmond Road are being widened to six-lanes.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has established a website with information about the Richmond Road project at us25.ky.gov . The site includes a construction schedule, maps of the project, and photographs relating to the project.

More information: Herald-Leader: Richmond Road work to begin Monday (Mar. 27, 2003) 

When the first part of this bridge opened in 1946 it was the 7th tallest bridge in the United States. Today it is still an engineering wonder; two parallel bridges were joined together by a third bridge to form one continuous roadway. On July 5, 2003, I took these pictures of the I-75's crossing of the Kentucky River: the Clay's Ferry Bridge.

South end of the bridge viewed from KY 2328.	Looking south from underneath the bridge.	The central span of the bridge, viewed from KY 2328.
[Click Here for More Pictures and Information]

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced the following upcoming public meetings:

• Sept. 9 - Discussion of Upgrades to US 51 in Hickman County 
• Sept. 10 - Discussion of Upgrades to US 51 in Carlisle County 
• Sept. 10 - Replacement of the High Street Bridge 
• Sept. 19 - Construction of a new interchange and rest area on I-75 
• Sept. 24 - US 421 widening in Fayette County 
• Sept. 26 - US 460 Realignment in Morgan County 
• Oct. 7 - US 119 Reconstruction in Letcher County