Welcome to KentuckyRoads.com. This web site contains information about Kentucky's roads and highways collected by Jeffrey Carlyle. It is not associated with any government agency. For more information about this website see here.

About this image: The sign to the left is an example of Kentucky's standard welcome sign. This particular sign is on US 231 at the south end of the William H. Natcher Bridge in Daviess County.

The old US 60 bridge over the Cumberland River at Smithland was demolished with explosives on November 30, 2023.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

Clark County I-64 Rest Area Again Judged ‘Best Maintained’ in Kentucky

Staff praised for providing clean, safe haven to motorists

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 15, 2023) – Kentucky’s “best maintained” rest area for 2023 can be found on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 in Clark County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today.

“The interstate highway system was planned with rest areas along the way as a convenience. Now, they’re a necessity,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray, whose agency annually presents the Best Maintained Rest Area Award. “It sends a message about our state when we can offer visitors a clean, safe facility in which everything is in working order.”

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From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1:

Warren Fiscal Court on May 11, 2023 approved the Rural Secondary Road Program allotment of $2,085,326 submitted by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 officials for improving three of the county's secondary state routes deemed most in need: Bowling Green Daily News: Claypool-Boyce among rural roads to get upgrades (May 12, 2023) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

Governors Beshear and DeWine Submit Second Federal Funding Request for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project
Additional funding will support bridge and roadway improvements that will grow the economy and invest in local communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug.10, 2022) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that a second federal funding application was submitted jointly by the two states to support bridge and roadway improvements along the eight-mile Brent Spence Bridge Corridor from the Western Hills Viaduct in Ohio to Dixie Highway in Kentucky.

The current funding request is through the Bridge Investment Program, which follows the May funding request through the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant Program. Ohio and Kentucky articulated in both applications that a total of $1.66 billion in federal grant funding is needed regardless of which discretionary grant program awards funds to the project. The states are applying to multiple grant programs to give themselves the best chance of receiving maximum funding, in keeping with the pledges of Govs. DeWine and Beshear to pursue every available federal dollar.

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Warren County's fiscal court approved an agreement with the City of Bowling Green to cooperate on a project to rebuild a section of Cave Mill Road past the end of the current three lane segment. The road which is cooperatively maintained by the city and the county is an important cooridor connecting major arteries on Bowling Gren's south side. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet cabinet projects the work cost $28 million over 6 years.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Cave Mill Road project agreement moves ahead (Dec. 18, 2022) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting on Dec. 13 to discuss plans for widening a section of US 31W north of Franklin. This is another phase of an ongoing project to widen the existing narrow roadway between Bowling Green and Franklin to modern standards and add a continuous center left turn lane.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Simpson County U.S. 31W widening project takes first steps (Dec. 15, 2022) 

The historic motel Wig Wam Village No. 2 in Cave City is under new ownership and being restored to its 1937 appearance. The new owners celebrated the relighting of the motel's neon sign with an open house in April of this year.

More information: WNKY: Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 neon sign lighting and open house (April 22, 2021) , WBKO: Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 undergoing restoration, new ownership (April 23, 2021) , Historic Wig Wam Village No. 2 , Bowling Green Daily News: New owners restoring, upgrading Wigwam Village (May 9, 2021) , Bowling Green Daily News: Historic Wigwam Village celebrates restoration of iconic sign (May 3, 2021) 

Warren County Fiscal Court has approved the advertisement of bids to restore the Old Richardsville Road Bridge over the Barren River. The county received a $312,000 grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to aid in preservation of the bridge which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge has been closed since 2018 due to concerns with its condition.

The county will also replace a low water ford on Little Beaver Creek Road with a bridge.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Plans for county bridges move forward (May 24, 2021) 

Drone footage shows the chaos which ensued when a new "mini-roundabout" opened at the intersection of US 60 and KY 801 near the community of Farmers at the Bath and Rowan County Line. Numerous vehicles are shown driving on the left approach and traversing the roundabout in a clockwise direction.

Additional information:

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 9: Construction Under Way on US 60 'Mini-Roundabout' at Farmers Near Bath-Rowan Line (April 5, 2021) 
• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Roundabouts (retrieved April 26, 2021) 
• The Drive: Chaos Erupts Immediately After Northeast Kentucky Gets Its First Roundabout (April 26, 2021) 

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 1:

Project continues to be ahead of schedule

PADUCAH, Ky. (April 16, 2021) — Construction of the New U.S. 60 bridge over the Cumberland River at Smithland, in Livingston County, reached another milepost ahead of schedule this week.

Jim Smith Contracting, prime contractor on the $63.6 million project, poured concrete on the two south approach spans this week and expects arrival and placement of additional beams for the north approach spans later this month.

KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat says he and other engineers supervising the project are pleased with progress so far.

“Work continues to appear to be a month or two ahead of schedule,” Poat said. “That’s good, although on a project with a 40-month construction schedule, it's a bit early to do much celebrating.”

Jim Smith Contracting plans to begin construction on footers for the main piers nearest the river bank after the spring flood season in early May. The construction schedule calls for moving traffic to the new bridge in spring 2023.

Steel for the main truss has been ordered and should start arriving this summer. The 700-foot main span will be assembled off-site, beginning this fall, then floated to the construction site by barge and lifted into place in fall 2022.

The new bridge will have a 40-foot-wide, two-lane deck with 12-foot-wide driving lanes and 6-foot-wide shoulders, allowing motor vehicles to share the bridge with most farm equipment.

In addition to providing a significant link for U.S. 60 through western Kentucky, the new bridge will maintain a critical connection for Livingston County, which is divided by the Cumberland River.

The new bridge will replace a span built in 1931 and known as the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial Bridge or Smithland Bridge.

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On March 16, 2021, representatives from consulting group Michael Baker international, the Bowling Green-Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet conducted a virtual public meeting to discuss early planning for construction of a new interchange on I-65 in Southern Warren County. Such an interchange would fill a fourteen mile gap between the interchange at Exit 6 in Simpson County and the I-165 interchange at Exit 20 in Bowling Green. Three potential alternatives under consideration are at KY 240 (Woodburn Allen Springs Road), KY 242 (Richpond Road), or at Carter Sims Road. Improving connections with US 31W (Nashville Road) and KY 622 (Plano Road) are also being considered. Construction of any such interchange is believed to be eight to twelve years away.

More information:

• Bowling Green Daily News: Woodburn area grades best on I-65 interchange study (March 17, 2021) 
• I-65 Interchange Feasibility Study 

The new Louisville East End Ohio River bridge opened to traffic on Dec. 18. It will be officially known as the Lewis and Clark Bridge: East End Partners: Lewis and Clark Bridge, East End Crossing Open to Traffic (Dec. 18, 2016) 

840 WHAS posted this video of a drive across the bridge  on their Facebook page.

Courier-Journal coverage of the bridge opening: Courier-Journal: After decades-long wait, East End bridge opens (Dec. 19, 2016) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

TOLLING TO BEGIN IN LOUISVILLE AND SOUTHERN INDIANA

I-65 and East End bridges will be tolled

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 13, 2016) –  Drivers traveling in Louisville and Southern Indiana need to prepare for the start of tolling on three Ohio River bridges. Tolling on the Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project is scheduled to begin Friday, December 30. 

Tolled bridges include the two I-65 bridges connecting Downtown Louisville and Southern Indiana, the new Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the improved John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge. The new East End bridge connecting the Gene Snyder Freeway in Prospect, Ky. with State Road 265 in Utica, Ind. will also be tolled. 

RiverLink is the name of the new, all-electronic tolling system that makes the project possible. There’s no stopping, no slowing, no lines and no coin machines. Toll rates range from $2-$12, depending on the size of vehicle and whether the driver has a RiverLink account and transponder.

Drivers with transponders will pay the lowest toll rates. Drivers can set up a prepaid RiverLink account to get a transponder. All E-ZPass transponders, including the I-PASS from Illinois and the Indiana Toll Road E-ZPass, will work with the RiverLink system. No further action is necessary.

Drivers without transponders will get bills in the mail, and pay higher toll rates. Drivers who do not pay their tolls will be charged a penalty and may face restrictions on vehicle registration until tolls and penalties are paid.

Opening a RiverLink Account

Drivers can open a personal account online at www.RiverLink.com, by phone at 855-RIV-LINK or in person at one of two RiverLink customer service centers. A personal account can include up to four vehicles, with a minimum balance of $20 to open the account. The account balance rolls over month to month.

The fastest way to open a RiverLink personal account is online. The website is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week with no wait. Transponders will be mailed to account holders, free of charge.

For businesses with more than four vehicles, the fastest and easiest way to open an account is by calling a specialized customer service representative at 855-RIV-LINK.

Choice of Transponders

A RiverLink local transponder is free, one per registered vehicle. The small sticker adheres to the inside of windshield, is non-transferable and will work only on tolled bridges between Louisville and Southern Indiana.

A RiverLink E-ZPass transponder is $15 per transponder. It’s mounted on the inside of the windshield, is portable from vehicle to vehicle registered to a single account and works in all 16 E-ZPass states (https://e-zpassiag.com/about-e-zpass/where-can-i-use-it).

The I-64 (Sherman Minton) and the US 31/Second Street (Clark Memorial) bridges across the Ohio River will not be tolled in connection with the project. Find more information at www.RiverLink.com.

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The Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project includes two new bridges and their approaches, an improved Kennedy Bridge and reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange, where I-65, I-64 and I-71 come together in downtown Louisville. The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge carries six lanes of I-65 northbound traffic. The improved Kennedy Bridge carries six lanes of southbound traffic. The new East End bridge will connect the Gene Snyder Freeway in Prospect, Ky. with State Road 265 (Lee Hamilton Highway) in Utica, Ind.

Find more details on the Ohio River Bridges Project at www.kyinbridges.com.

Courtesy of Aerial Innovations here are some photographs of the progress on the new East End Ohio River crossing in Louisville-Jefferson County .

A recent meeting of the Henderson City-County Planning Commission was dominated by talk of Interstate 69. The commission's land use maps do not reflect any potential routes for I-69 and its proposed Ohio River crossing and will not until a route is chosen in 2016 or later: The Gleaner: I-69 route still a mystery to planners (Sep. 14, 2015) 

Some historical information form the Department of Highways District 2 about the renumbering of the route carried by the Glover Cary Bridge in downtown Owensboro (dated Sept. 20, 2011):

‘Blue Bridge’ in Owensboro gets route number change
It closed as KY 2155 Ohio River Bridge, to reopen as KY 2262 Ohio River Bridge

OWENSBORO, Ky. – The KY 2155 Ohio River Bridge – known locally as the “Blue Bridge” and the Glover Cary Bridge in downtown Owensboro – is closed for a deck rehabilitation project.  When it reopens, the bridge will have a new route designation.  It will become the KY 2262 Ohio River Bridge.

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The bridge over the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro will be temporarily closed during a festival in the city from September 11th to the 13th. The press release from the Department of Highways includes some facts and figures regarding the bridge that once carried US 231 into Indiana:

Traffic ADVISORY

The City of Owensboro has a permit to temporarily halt traffic on the KY 2262 Ohio River “Blue” Bridge at specific times for a Bridge Day celebration and the Owensboro Air Show on September 11, 12 and 13, 2015.

The KY 2262 Ohio River “Blue” Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic at the following times:

Friday, September 11^th

2:00 p.m., CDT, to 4:00 p.m.- Air Show Practice

Saturday, September 12^th

8:00 a.m., CDT, to 4:30 p.m.- Bridge Day & Air Show

Sunday, September 13^th

2:30 p.m., CDT, to 4:30 p.m.- Air Show

The City of Owensboro will provide appropriate roadway signage notifying the driving public of the bridge closure.

For additional info on festival activities planned this weekend in Owensboro go tohttps://www.owensboro.org/post/bridge-closure-for-air-show-weekend.

Also known as The Blue Bridge and the Glover Cary Bridge, the 4,622 ft. structure connects KY 2262 and Indiana State Route 161 over the Ohio  River at Owensboro. Approximately 7,300 vehicles cross the Ohio River on the Blue Bridge between Kentucky and Indiana in an average day.  The structure opened to traffic in September 1940 as a toll bridge.  The tolls were discontinued in 1954.

The Blue Bridge is at Ohio River navigation mile point 756.3.

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 Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 (Aug. 7, 2015):

All lanes US 62 at Maysville now open after $4.4 million rebuild

Improvement provides new 3-mile conduit for 17,000 vehicles

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (August 7, 2015) – Traffic patterns returned to normal today along US 62 at Maysville, the city’s primary downtown access route, as contractors finished the bulk of a $4.4 million Kentucky Transportation Cabinet upgrade of the four-lane state highway.

The upgrade rebuilt 1.2 miles of US 62 from the ground up, removing aging sub-surface concrete and repaving with nearly 14 inches of new asphalt to provide a smoother, more stable driving surface from the AA Highway to Moody Drive and on a shorter section from Fourth Street to Forest Avenue.

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has posted a status report for the Mountain Parkway Expansion project . This week's report covers work in and around Saylersville.

The August 11 report  from the Transportation Cabinet discusses the selected alternative for the widening of the Mountain Parkway in Wolfe County.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10 (Aug. 28, 2015):

Public meeting on new route for KY 30 in Owsley County draws 100 attendees

JACKSON, KY – Approximately 100 people attended a public meeting Thursday, Aug. 27, to discuss the proposed relocation of KY 30 in Owsley and Jackson counties. The meeting was conducted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways District 10.

Attendees viewed a presentation by District 10 personnel and consultants. They provided comments on the project, asked several questions and viewed maps of the area showing the general scope of the proposed project. They were also provided comment forms on which they could express their opinions on the project.

A project is under development to relocate KY 30 between the US 421 intersection at Tyner in Jackson County and Travellers Rest in Owsley County. Two new-terrain corridors are under consideration. Both would begin at the intersection of US 421 and the new segment of KY 30 that was opened to traffic last year. One corridor would cross existing KY 30 near Elias in Jackson County and run to the northwest of the existing route to Travellers Rest. The other would cross existing KY 30 in Owsley County, approximately 1.5 miles from the Jackson County line, then run northwest of the existing route along a new alignment to Travellers Rest.

Both corridors will use the new bridge currently under construction at Travellers Rest, and will tie into the separate project to realign KY 30 between Travellers Rest and Levi. A contract is scheduled to be awarded for construction of that segment later this year.

The proposed road would have two 11-foot driving lanes. Truck climbing lanes on hills are under consideration. It would also feature paved shoulders, turning lanes at major intersections and a 30-foot clear zone adjacent to the highway.

When combined with the segment already completed in Jackson and Laurel counties and the portion in Owsley County to be awarded later this year, the new road will reduce travel time from the Beattyville/Booneville area to I-75 at London from around one hour to approximately 40 minutes. The entire corridor will provide improved safety and mobility for drivers who use it.

This project is included in the 2014-2020 Kentucky Highway Plan, approved last year by the General Assembly.

The project manager will receive written comments on the project through Sept. 15. Photographs and plans displayed at the public hearing may be viewed at the Department of Highways District 10 office, 473 Highway 15 South, Jackson, during the comment period. Comments on the project may be addressed to: Darren Back, P.E., project manager; Kentucky Department of Highways, P.O. Box 621, Jackson, KY 41339.

A similar meeting is scheduled for Jackson County on Tuesday, Sept. 1. It will be held at Tyner Elementary School.

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways:

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a traffic shift in the work zone for the New I-69 Interchange with the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway in HOPKINS County on Friday, July 24, 2015.

Starting Friday morning, the contractor plans to change southbound traffic on the Pennyrile Parkway to the permanent traffic configuration.   That means southbound traffic on the Pennyrile will remain on the southbound lanes of I-69 along the main line, then exit left to continue south on the Pennyrile toward Hopkinsville or to take the exit ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway eastbound lanes.

The movement for southbound traffic wishing to remain on the Pennyrile will require going over the new overpass to get back to the southbound Pennyrile or to access the existing cloverleaf ramp to the right for eastbound WK Parkway access.

Motorists should continue to use appropriate caution in this work zone and be prepared for lane restrictions to allow additional construction activities along the interchange.

The $29 million design-build contract to reconstruct the interchange to accommodate Interstate 69 was awarded to the Rogers Group, Inc., and QK4 Inc., with an expected completion date in October 2015.

Kentucky now has 55 miles of I-69.  The route follows I-24 for 17 miles from The Julian Carroll-Purchase Parkway at Calvert City to Eddyville.  I-69 then runs for 38 miles along the former Wendell Ford-Western Kentucky Parkway from Eddyville to the Pennyrile Parkway near Madisonville.

The I-69 Interchange project in Hopkins County is among about 10 major projects totaling $260 million in new construction aimed at extending I-69 northward along the Pennyrile and southward along the Purchase Parkway.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways has begun field survey work in preparation for planning a replacement of the US 60 bridge over the Cumberland River.

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From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10:

Area residents invited to attend public meeting on improvements to KY 2498 in Morgan County on July 28

JACKSON, KY – Residents of Morgan County are invited to attend a public informational meeting to discuss a project to improve KY 2498 in West Liberty. The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 28, from 5-7 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the West Liberty City Hall. This will be an “open house” format meeting with no formal presentation.

Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and project consultants will be available to answer questions and provide information about the project. Handouts will be available describing the project’s purpose and need, the right-of-way acquisition process and potential utility relocation concerns. Members of the public will be able to view displays showing the proposed route and the properties to be impacted by the project.

A project is under development to improve KY 2498 (Liberty Road/Wells Hill) between the US 460 intersection and the vicinity of the Morgan County ARH Hospital. The proposed improvements include widened shoulders and eliminating geometric deficiencies. The project is in the preliminary design phase. No schedule has yet been set for right of way acquisition or for construction.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10 (Oct. 2, 2012):

Month-long bridge repair project on KY 1419 in Wolfe County begins Monday, Oct. 8  

JACKSON, KY – A bridge repair project scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 8 on KY 1419 in Wolfe County will result in one-lane traffic and delays for motorists using this highway.

Temporary signals will control traffic at the bridge crossing the Red River near KY 191 at Daysboro. These temporary signals will be in place for approximately 30 days as work on a bridge deck restoration and waterproofing project proceeds.

During the project, the route will be restricted to vehicles less than 10 feet wide. Vehicles wider than 10 feet will need to find an alternate route around the project. Overwidth vehicles can use KY 191, KY 1010 and KY 1953 as a detour route.

Drivers should slow down as they approach this construction zone, watch for stopped traffic and obey the temporary traffic signals. Motorists are asked to “Drive Smart” in this and all other work zones and be aware of workers, traffic control devices and construction equipment when traveling in this and other areas where projects are ongoing.

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 Tranportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 4 (Sept. 11, 2012):

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From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 9 (Sept. 7, 2012):

Traffic advisory: Road work on KY 11 in Bath County
Pavement improvement project

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – Motorists should watch for traffic changes on KY 11 in Bath County in the coming weeks as contractors have started work on a $321,000 pavement improvement project.

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From Kentucky Tranportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 9 (Sept. 12, 2012):

Officials cut ribbon on Main Street bridge in downtown Greenup
Project represents $6.2 million investment

GREENUP, Ky. – Transportation Cabinet officials joined state legislators and community leaders today to cut the ribbon on Greenup’s new Main Street bridge, celebrating a $6.2 million investment in northeast Kentucky infrastructure.

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From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10:

Two area counties to receive new driver’s license software, cameras
Driver’s license operation to be suspended for one day in Owsley, Perry to allow for installation

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2012) – Installation of software and cameras for Kentucky’s new driver’s license will require a one-day suspension of license-issuing activity in the circuit court clerk’s offices in Owsley and Perry counties in the coming days.

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