US 68

From Department of Highways District 1 (Aug. 11, 2015):

Traffic ADVISORY

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has expanded the work zone footprint for the New Eggners Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake at Aurora and has shifted traffic in the 4-lane section at each end of the project area.

Today, the length of the work zone was extended by about 1/2 mile at each end with completion of median crossovers.  Traffic was shifted to the new configuration aboutNoon, today.

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3:

Governor Beshear announces increased speed limit of 65 mph on U.S. 68/KY 80 between Cadiz, Bowling Green
‘Well-designed, well-built highway’ is connector between I-24 and I-65

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear, joined by area legislators and state and local officials, today unveiled new highway signs announcing a higher speed limit of 65 mph on strategically located U.S. 68/KY 80 between Cadiz and Bowling Green.

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From Kentucky Transporation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 (Sept. 14, 2012):

District 3 Traffic Impact Report

 KYTC District 3:  Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd and Warren Counties

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The Eggners Ferry Bridge was reopened as planned by Memorial Day this year. This information is posted here for historical purposes. From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 1 (May 18, 2012):

Repairs on track for Eggners Ferry Bridge to reopen by Memorial Day weekend
Concrete pour on deck section tentatively scheduled for Sunday

AURORA, Ky.– Repairs to the U.S. 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge are on track for reopening of the damaged bridge in time for the Memorial Day weekend. 

Crews from Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc. lifted a new truss span into place on Tuesday, May 15. Today, they are placing the last of the reinforcing steel and forms required for pouring a concrete deck on the new span this weekend.  They plan complete final preparations on Saturday morning to be prepared to pour concrete starting on Sunday morning.  The concrete pour is expected to take about 5 to 6 hours to complete.

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From the Office of the Governor (May 24, 2012):

Eggners Ferry Bridge to reopen Friday afternoon
Highway crews finalizing details to resume traffic; public invited to walk bridge prior to opening

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 24, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear hailed tomorrow’s planned reopening of the U.S. 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge – a full 2 ½ days ahead of schedule. Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc. completed the emergency repairs on the bridge earlier than required, and the bridge is expected to reopen to traffic at 1 p.m. CDT Friday.

The Eggners Ferry Bridge, which carries U.S. 68/KY 80 across Kentucky Lake, has been closed since it was struck by a cargo ship, the Delta Mariner, on the night of Jan. 26. A 322-foot-long span of the 80-year-old bridge was torn away.

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On February 4, 2012, officials allowed public access to the eastern approach to the Eggner's Ferry Bridge to view the collapsed span. The bridge carried US 68 and KY 80 over Kentucky Lake (the Tennessee River) between Marshall and Trigg counties. A mainspan of the bridge collapsed after being struck by the cargo vessel MV Delta Mariner on January 26, 2012.

More images: US 68 / KY 80 - Eggner's Ferry Bridge

The Associated Press is reporting that the Eggner Ferry Bridge which carries US 68 and KY 80 over Kentucky Lake has partially collapsed after being struck by river traffic. It appears that one of the four main truss sections of the bridge has completely collapsed. There were no injuries reported.

More information: Associated Press: Officials: Portion of SW Ky. bridge collapses (Jan. 26, 2012) , WAVE3: U.S. 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake partially collapses (Jan. 26, 2012) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 (Aug. 9, 2010):

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting from 4 pm until 6 pm on Tuesday, August 24 at the Metcalfe County High School concerning the construction of a new interchange on the Louis B. Nunn/Cumberland Parkway at US 68, north of Edmonton.

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 4:

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (May 24, 2010) — A section of Craintown Road near U.S. 68 in Marion County, near the Boyle County line, will be closed throughout the summer as crews construct two concrete bridges and realign the U.S. 68 approach.

The roadway will be closed from June 1 to Sept. 15. Motorists can detour via Crain School Road and Short Line Road, in Boyle County. The detour route is signed.

Together the bridge replacements will cost about $388,000. The work is part of a $6.7 million, 2.6-mile reconstruction of U.S. 68 from KY 243, in Marion County, to about a half-mile west of KY 34, in Boyle County.

Work to address a slumping roadway will cause intermittent closures along a portion of US 68 in Jessamine County this week: Lexington Herald-Leader: Portion of U.S. 68 to close starting Wednesday (Aug. 17, 2009) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently awarded a contract for the first phase of the Pennyrile Parkway extension. The project will eventually extend the southern terminus of the parkway to I-24: Henderson Gleaner: State to extend Pennyrile (May 6, 2006) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently presented proposed plans for widening US 68/KY 80 through the Land Between the Lakes: WPSD-TV NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: US 68 Expansion- From 2 Lanes To 4 (Dec. 5, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will soon takeover responsibility for replacing decorative light bulbs on the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River at Maysville. Decorative lighting on other bridges across the state has always been the responsibility of local authorities: Maysville Ledger Independent: No easy fix for bridge illumination (Nov. 9, 2005) 

Contracts for the first phase of a project to extend the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to I-24 are scheduled to be let in November. Construction may begin as early as April. The first phase will extend the parkway to the US 68 By-pass around Hopkinsville.

More information: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Meeting to explain parkway expansion (Sept. 21, 2005) , Evansville Courier & Press: Parkway extension troubles homeowner (Sept. 25, 2005) 

New stop signs will be installed on the square in downtown Elkton.

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A project to widen a stretch of US 68/KY 80 in northern Warren County was completed this week.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: U.S. 68 opens today with additional 3 lanes (May 13, 2005) 

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A route has been chosen for the proposed southern bypass of Russellville. The chosen route was the longest of three alternatives considered and will connect at the existing northern bypass at both ends. Right-of-way purchase for the eastern leg of the bypass (between US 68/KY 80 and KY 100) is expected to begin this year.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Logan selects route for bypass (May 3, 2005) , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Commissioner says Southern Bypass coming (May 3, 2005) 

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The annual 400 Mile Sale stretching along US 68 from Maysville to Paducah will be held June 2-5: Maysville Ledger-Independent: A 400 mile opportunity: Yard sale is a big chance for buyers and sellers (May 1, 2005) , West Kentucky Corporation: 400 Mile Sale Across Kentucky , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: 400 Mile events listed along U.S. 68-80 (May 10, 2005) 

A project to extend Seventh Street has begun in Bowling Green. The project will tie together US 68/KY 80, KY 185, KY 234, and KY 880 and will include the construction of a new underpass under the CSX railroad.

The reporter for the Daily News refers the project as part of a four lane loop; however, KY 880 is far from a four lane loop. The road is two lanes from KY 234 to US 231 east of downtown and from US 68/KY 80 to KY 1435 southwest of downtown.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Four-lane loop stays on track (April 6, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has recommended that the proposed “Heartland Parkway” between Columbia and Springfield be constructed by widening KY 55, US 68, and KY 555 to four lanes along their existing route.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: Heartland Parkway could be a little closer (March 6, 2005) 

Construction should begin this summer to realign 14th Street in Bowling Green near Western Kentucky University. After the project is complete Center Street will end at 14th Street. The realignment is intended to improve traffic flow around WKU’s campus.

Plans for a new Southwest Corridor between Russellville Road (US 68/KY 80) and Nashville Road (US 31W) are complete, and the city will purchase right of way for the new four lane connector route beginning this year. The city of Bowling Green expects money to fund the $10.9 construction project to come form the state’s budget.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: LifeSkills site dispute ends (March 3, 2005) 

William also noted during a meeting of the Purchase Area Development District that work will not begin to widen US 68/KY 80 through the Land Between the Lakes until a environmental impact statement is approved by the federal government.

More information: Murray Ledger & Times: Road project to resume this summer (Feb. 22, 2005) 

Work to widen US 68/KY 80 beginning at the intersection with US 31W north of Bowling Green is being done on an accelerated basis and being paid for with discretionary funds. The $2.5 million project is likely a prelude to the construction of a new interchange with I-65 to serve the new Kentucky TriModal Transpark. Completion of the widening is scheduled for May 15.

Work is also planned to begin soon to reconstruct KY 101 near the Warren County-Edmonson County line.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Traffic changes being planned (Feb. 7, 2005) , WBKO: U.S.68 SAFETY PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING (FEB. 7, 2005) 

A meeting to discuss the proposed widening of US 68/KY 80 through the Land Between the Lakes will be held sometime this spring: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Road projects through LBL subject of hearing (Jan. 7, 2005) 

The city of Bowling Green recently unveiled a 25 year plan for major thoroughfares through the city and surrounding county. Plans include widening most roads into the city and construction of new routes along the edges of the city including a new beltline highway.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Manager: City roads in dire need of changes (Nov. 16, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Metro status leads to needs assessment (Nov. 17, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has recently released the Final Report of the Pre-Design Scoping study for improvements to the Kentucky 69 approach to the Bob Cummings Bridge in Hawesville: more information 

Additionally, materials involving a study of a proposed route between US 68 and Tollesboro in Fleming, Mason, and Lewis County: more information 

Information regarding alternatives for a new connector route between Harlan and Hazard has also been posted: more information 

Following an accident at the intersection of KY 79 and the US 68/KY 80 Bypass in Russellville, a youth group from Oak Grove Baptist Church wrote to the Logan County Fiscal Court suggesting safety improvements at intersections along the bypass: Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Church teens seek more Bypass safety measures (Oct. 15, 2004) 

The September 2004 edition of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s newsletter, the Transportation Konnection, has been posted to the KYTC’s web site .

Interesting items in September’s Konnection are:

• Information about “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” day,
• Information about another award for the Paris Pike Project,
• Information about photograph of the ground breaking for Ken Bale Boulevard in Bowling Green,
• Photographs of the reconstruction interchange between the Western Kentucky Parkway and KY 259 near Leitchfield, and
• Photographs from the Simon Kenton Bridge rededication ceremony.

Download: [Transportation Konnection – September 2004] (2MB)

• October 26: Public meeting to discuss the replacement of the KY 2448 crossing of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (6PM-8PM at the Hazard City Hall) [more information ]
  
  
• November 4: Public hearing to discuss the reconstruction of KY 52 in Garrard and Madison counties. (5PM-8PM at Paint Lick Elementary School) [more information ]
  
  
• November 9: Public meeting to discuss alternatives for a proposed route between the AA Highway at Tollesboro and US 68 at Fairview. (5PM-7PM in the Fleming RECC Meeting Room in Flemingsburg) [more information ]
  
  
• November 29, 30: Public meeting to discuss construction of the new Interstate 66 between Somerset and London. (Nov. 29 5PM-8PM at London Community Center and Nov. 30 5PM-8PM at The Center for Rural Development in Somereset) [more information ]

In late September, the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridges was rededicated following a multiyear rehabilitation project. The bridge was originally dedicated Nov. 25, 1931. In addition to numerous local and state officials, two women who participated at the original dedication ceremony were on hand.

More information: The (Maysville, Ky.) Ledger Independent: Bridge Rededicated Following Upgrade (Sept. 24, 2004) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Holds Opening Ceremony for Simon-Kenton Bridge (Sept. 23, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently presented three options for the so-called Heartland Parkway in central Kentucky between Columbia and Springfield.

• Option 1 would construct a new interstate-like highway between the Cumberland Parkway and Blue Grass Parkway. The new highway would follow a corridor roughly two miles to the west of KY 55/US 68/KY 555.
• Option 2 would widen the existing KY 55/US 68/KY 555 route to four lanes.
• Option 3 would keep the current KY 55/US 68/KY 555 route at two lanes, but add passing lanes every three miles.

Area residents expressed a wide variety of opinions about the three options at the recent public meetings.

More information: Lebanon Enterprise: Opinions vary about Heartland Parkway options (August 19, 2004) 

Traffic shifts caused by new commercial developments and the closing of a Fruit of the Loom plant in Campbellsville have caused congestion at the intersection of KY 210 and US 68: Central Kentucky News-Journal: KY 210 traffic becoming a problem (July 11, 2004) 

With work to construct a new four lane section of KY 80 between Aurora and US 641 north of Murray nearly completed, focus has shifted to the next stage of the project: construction of another new four lane section between US 641 and Mayfield. The Graves/Calloway County is currently in the grade-and-drain phase of construction. Surfacing of the highway will not begin for sometime, and the road will not be open to traffic for several years.

More information: Murray Ledger & Times: Ky. 68/80 section moving west into Graves County (July 10, 2004) 

The new Glasgow Outer Loop will be mostly complete by the fall. The new highway will connect KY 90 west of Glasgow to US 68/KY 80 east of the city.

The only remaining uncompleted sections of the highway are two connections to the Cumberland Parkway. There is currently no funding to begin construction on these sections.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Main sections of Glasgow’s outer loop to open by winter (June 27, 2004) 

Team Taylor County executive director Kevin Sheilley recently reported at a meeting of the Campbellsville/Taylor County Industrial Development Authority that he believes planning for the Heartland Parkway is still on track: (Campbellsville) Central Kentucky News Journal: FOL building may be demolished (June 6, 2004) 

US 68 and KY 80 played host a 400 mile long yard sale the first weekend of June: Bowling Green Daily News: 400-mile yard sale kicks off on 68-80 (June 3, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: The 400-mile sale (June 4, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Buyers crossing nation for statewide sale (June 5, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Festival gives Smiths Grove chance to relax, sell goods (June 6, 2004) 

Part of the preliminary work on a project to extend KY 880 from its current terminus at KY 185 to 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue will include an archeological survey of the area. Among other things, transportation cabinet archeologists will examine abandoned outhouses.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Black History Focus of Downtown Survey (June 1, 2004) 

The US 68 Yard Sale is underway today through Sunday in the 24 counties along the path of US 68 in Kentucky: more information .

Over fifty photographs have been added to the site. They concern:

• The Cave-in-Rock Ferry in Crittenden County
• Bridges along KY 7, KY 30, and KY 52
• Signs from around Kentucky
• A Former Toll Bridge across the Green River
• Bridges along US 62
• An Abandoned Tunnel along US 68

On April 1, the Simon Kenton suspension bridge over the Ohio River at Maysville closed to traffic. This is part of the second year of a two-year project to refurbish the bridge. The bridge will reopen later this year. Travelers should use the new William H. Harsha Bridge a few miles downstream from the Kenton Bridge.

Original construction of the bridge took only one year. It opened to traffic in 1931.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Second and Final Season of Bridge Repair is Here (Apr. 1, 2004) 

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a transportation project authorization bill containing a number of Kentucky projects. Including:

The Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project

• $7 million for continuing the Brent Spence Bridge replacement study
• I-65 connector route in Warren County
• Pennyrile Parkway extension in Christian County
• The Heartland Parkway
• I-66 northern bypass of Somerset

The Senate has passed a similar bill. Differences between the two bills must now be reconciled and passed by both houses before going before the president for his approval or veto.

More information: Courier-Journal: Bill with bridges money held up (Apr. 1, 2004)  , Business First of Louisville: House passes bill with funding for bridges project (Mar. 29, 2004) , Cincinnati Post: $7M for bridge a drop in bucket (Apr. 3, 2004) , Kentucky New Era: $8 million approved for parkway extension (Apr. 3, 2004) , Central Kentucky News-Journal: Parkway is closer to reality (Apr. 4, 2004) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that greater Cincinnati area projects are fairing poorly in the bill: Cincinnati Enquirer: Local roads kicked to the curb (Apr. 2, 2004) 

The Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge over the Ohio River at Maysville will close this summer for repair work. The bridge was closed last summer as part of the same repair project, but has been open over the past winter. The bridge will close April 1 and is planned to reopen August 31.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Bridge to close once again to complete repair work (March 15, 2004) 

This summer will see an event known as “400 Miles of Antiques, Collectibles & Stuff” along nearly 400-miles of US 68 Kentucky. The event will be held June 3-6 and involve events along in 24 counties along US 68’s route.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: 400 miles of opportunity -- June event will bring thousands of visitors, dollars to Central Kentucky (March 14, 2004) 

Transportation officials have revealed three options for a proposed route between Columbia and Springfield. The proposed route has been called the Heartland Parkway and would pass through Adair, Taylor, Marion and Washington Counties.

One option would see the construction of the an interstate-type highway between the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Blue Grass Parkway.

A second option would widen a route along KY 55, US 68, and KY 555 to four lanes.

A third option would simply add one mile of passing lanes to every three miles of road along KY 55, US 68, and KY 555 between the two parkways.

Current highway plans include no funding for the project other than this initial study.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: Heartland Parkway -- Three options unveiled for 60-mile road (March 14, 2004) 

Funding to continue the reconstruction of KY 80 is included in the new Six-Year Highway Plan. The project to widen KY 80 between Cadiz and Mayfield is broken up into three phases.

• Phase 1 - Aurora to Murray - Construction on this phase of the project is nearly complete. It begins at the approach to US 68-KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake and continues westward to US 641 a few miles north of Murray. Construction started several years ago and should be complete this summer.
• Phase 2 - Murray to Mayfield - Construction on this phase was recently begun. This $60 million will construct a new four lane highway between US 641 north of Murray to Mayfield. Construction is expected to last for a couple of years.
• Phase 3 - Cadiz to Aurora - The Six-Year Plan includes $132 million to construct new four lane bridges over Kentucky Lake and Lake Berkeley. Construction on the bridges is scheduled to begin in 2006. Work on the widening project through the Land Between the Lakes has been delayed: the Tennessee Valley Authority gave initial approval for the project; however, ownership of the Land Between the Lakes has since been transferred to the United State Department of Agriculture forest service. Plans for the widening project are expected to be complete this summer, and construction is scheduled for completion in 2007.

The existing two-lane stretch of KY 80 between Aurora and Kentucky 58 east of Mayfield has already been renumbered as KY 402.

More information: Murray Ledger & Times: Committment [sic] shown for Ky. 80 project (Feb. 20, 2004) 

Sen. Mitch McConnell helped to secure $7.25 million in funding for transportation work related to the Bowling Green Transpark. Funded projects include a new I-65 interchange and improvements to US 68/KY 80.

More information: Russellville News-Democrat & Leader: McConnell secures funds for Kentucky Transpark (Feb. 3, 2004) 

Update (Feb. 7, 2004): More information: Associated Press: Transpark lines up $212 million first tenant (Feb. 5, 2004) 

The front page of Feb. 2's Glasgow Daily Times  includes a photograph of a bridge near US 68-KY 80 that is being built as part of the Glasgow Outer Loop. The Daily Times reports that the project is running ahead of schedule.

Photograph: Glasgow Daily Times: Feb. 2, 2004 

The Mercer County fiscal court will rename a section of US 68 in honor of the late Mercer County Judge-Executive Charles McGinnis who lost his battle with cancer in the fall.

More information: Danville Advocate Messenger: Mercer to rename section of U.S. 68 to honor McGinnis (Jan. 28, 2004) 

The Herald-Leader reports that the special treatment received by the Paris Pike widening project is not feasible for all projects. The project had been stopped by court injunctions and only allowed to proceed after the Transportation Cabinet developed a plan designed to preserve the historic nature of the corridor. This raised the price of the project considerably, and is the main reason why not all projects will receive similar treatment. The widening project cost around $4.5 million per mile, nearly twice the cost of similar projects in the state.

The award winning $93 million widening project between Lexington and Paris was completed during the week of Nov. 30, 2003.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: What Paris Pike has: money and power (Nov. 30, 2003) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Having Taken The High Road (Nov. 30, 2003) , Associated Press: Restructured Paris Pike getting good reviews for design (Nov. 30, 2003) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Bourbon County Down The Road (Dec. 1, 2003) 

A stretch of US 68 near Pleasant Hill in Mercer County that had been closed for reconstruction reopened on October 22.

More information: Danville Advocate Messenger: Work completed on stretch of U.S. 68 (October 23, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet presented several options for highways to connect the new Warren County Tri-Modal Transpark to I-65 at a public meeting on Oct. 9. Options include a new-freeway grade highway between I-65 and US 31W in northern Warren County and upgrading existing highways in the area.

More information: Bowling Green Daily-News: Public responds to interchange plan (Oct. 10, 2003) , Kentucky Trimodal Transpark 

Traffic on US 68 Harrodsburg Road in southern Fayette County will soon be switched to two new lanes. The project is expected to be completed next year.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Progress in widening Harrodsburg Road (Sept. 20, 2003) 

The National Partnership for Highway Quality awarded its 2003 State Award to the team involved in the Paris Pike Reconstruction Project. Special care to preserve the character of the neighboring land was taken during the project to widen Paris Pike between Lexington and Paris.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Kentucky Highway Team Wins National Quality Award (Sept. 5, 2003) , Ohio Valley Roads: Paris Pike 

The Transportation Cabinet is seeking consultants to design a 2.6-mile highway to connect I-65 to US 31W in northern Warren County as part of the Kentucky TriModal Transpark. The road could conceivably extended as part of the Bowling Green Beltline project or the I-66 project. The transportation cabinet would like to have construction start on the road within two years; however, they also expect a full environmental impact statement to be completed, which could take some time.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Transpark seeking road developers (Aug. 9, 2003) 

A project to re-align part of US 68 in Mercer County will involve a temporary closure of the road. A detour will be posted along KY 33 and KY 152 between Harrodsburg and Shaker Village. The landscaping for the project will involve the planting of 140 trees of 12 different native species. The road closed on Aug. 1 and will re-open by December 1.

Another section of US 68 in Boyle County was closed for culvert replacement on Aug. 6.

The Danville Advocate Messenger  reported this information on July 30, 2003.

Two-hundred-and-sixty-two photographs of Kentucky's roads have been added to this website. The new photo galleries include:

• Bridges of the Ohio River - Several of Kentucky's 40 bridges across the Ohio River.
• William H. Harsha Bridge Photographs - Photographs of Kentucky's first cable stayed bridge: the William H. Harsha bridge near Maysville.
• I-64 - Sherman Minton Bridge - The I-64 and US 150 bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville.
• Shortway Bridge - The Old KY 1120 bridge over the Licking River between Kenton and Campbell Counties.
• I-65 - John F. Kennedy Bridge - The I-65 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• US 31 - George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge) - The US 31 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• I-65 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 30 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the new section of KY 30 under construction in Laurel County.
• I-65 Warren County Construction - June 29, 2001
• I-65 Warren County Construction - May 22, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - August 15, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - July 5, 2003
• I-75 - Miscellaneous Images - Includes photographs of I-75 widening projects south of Lexington.
• William H. Natcher Bridge - October 26, 2002
• William H. Natcher Bridge - February 8, 2003
• Louisville - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 3 and KY 645 - Inez - January 3, 2003
• AA Highway - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 67 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 80 - Miscellaneous Images - Along KY 80 in Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
• KY 101 and KY 259 - Edmonson County - November 18, 2001 - A new section of KY 259 and KY 101 under construction in Edmonson County.
• US 23 - Miscellaneous Images
• US 60 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the Cumberland and Tennessee River bridges.

A few new images have been added to the KentuckyRoads.com - Miscellaneous Signs and KentuckyRoads.com - General Images galleries as well.

The Kroger grocery in Maysville has a replica of the Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge located near the produce section and photographs of the construction of the bridge near the entrance to the store. The Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge is a suspension bridge over the Ohio River. It was constructed in the 1930s and carries Business US 62 and Business US 68 into Ohio.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: New Kroger designed for customer satisfaction (July 22, 2003) 

I have added a new image gallery consisting of photographs I took of the roads of the Land Between the Lakes. Subjects covered include the US 68/KY 80 bridges over the two lakes, the KY 453 bridge over the Between the Rivers Canal, and road over Kentucky Lake.

The exit from US 68/KY 80 to The Trace.

Crossing the US 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake.

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has established a website covering the widening of Harrodsburg Road (US 68) in Fayette and Jessamine Counties at us68.ky.gov . The site includes construction schedules, maps, and photographs.

The Paris Pike Project was one 12 projects chosen for an Environmental Excellence Award. The widening of the road was originally proposed in 1966; however, fears that the beauty of the road would be destroyed by widening delayed the project for years. The project follows the contours of the land, preserved trees along the road, and used wooden fences instead of traditional metal guardrails.

The project was also honored by the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc, a not-for-profit group that advocated historic preservation in central Kentucky.

More information: Herald-Leader: Paris Pike Project Wins Award (Apr. 25, 2003) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Paris Pike Corridor Commission Wins Blue Grass Trust Preservation Award (June 18, 2003) 

A new four lane route for KY 80 has recently opened between US 68 at Aurora and US 641 at Murray has recently been completed. The Murray to Mayfield section is expected to be open by Spring 2004.

More information: WPSD: Highway 80 Could be Complete in Two Years (Nov. 1, 2002) 

H.B. Elkins posts in this Usenet message  that he has learned from Jeff Moore at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet that KY 80 will be routed along the new road currently under construction between Aurora and Mayfield. The current route of KY 80 between Aurora and KY 58 near Brewers has been renumbered as KY 402.

Over $16 million in funds left over from projects that came in under budget are being used to upgrade existing portions of US 68/KY 80 near Hopkinsville. In recent years, US 68/KY 80 has been widened to four lanes; however, in some sections the existing substandard roadway was used to carry traffic in one direction. This saved money since only two new lanes needed to be constructed instead of four. Now that there is some extra money available, the old roadway will be removed and rebuild to bring all four lanes to modern standards.

More information: Kentucky New Era: 'Bonus' construction upgrading older sections of 68-80 (August 6, 2002) 

Here  is some information from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet describing the historic and environmental concerns they took into consideration while designing a new route for US 68/KY 80 through the Land Between the Lakes .

A planned project to widen US 68/KY 80 to four lanes through the Land Between Lakes National Recreation Area  is expected to cause a great deal of controversy. The $250 million project will replace the two 70-year old bridges of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake and construct a four lane highway on a 1000-foot right of way through LBL. The project is planned to begin in 2004, pending approval by the U.S. Forestry Service.

Proponents believe the new route would be safer than the current two lane road and increase tourism and commerce in the area; however, critics are concerned about environmental damage.

More information: Kentucky New Era: LBL Road Projects Will Spur Serious Arguments (July 9, 2002) , Courier-Journal: Divide is forming over proposal for 4-lane road in W. Kentucky (July 8, 2002)  (includes photograph of the Kentucky Lake bridge)

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports in this article  (no longer online) that Harrodsburg Road (US 68) will be widened to four lanes beginning this summer. Work should be completed on the 3.4-mile section between Man o' War Boulevard and Brannon Road in late 2003 or early 2004.