Bullitt County

The Courier-Journal reports that concrete and other material being removed from I-65 and I-264 Watterson Expressway projects in Jefferson County is being used in reclamation projects in area quarries. The material is unsuitable for direct recycling so it is being used as fill material: Louisville Courier-Journal: Road projects take fill back to nature; Material from I-264 and I-65 repairs going into Natural Products quarry (Oct. 31, 2009) 

During a recent visit to Louisvlle, Gov. Steve Beshear updated the status of a number of road projects in the area. These include:

• The construction of an interchange between KY 1447 Westport Road and I-264 Watterson Expressway.
• Widening of I-64 from I-265 Gene Snyder Freeway to Exit 28 in Shelby County.
• Median cable barrier installation along I-65.
• Reconstruction of a ramp at the interchange between I-64 and I-264 Shawnee Expressway west of downtown.
• Pavement repairs along various stretches of interstate.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Beshear recaps road projects in Louisville area; $200M in work started or planned (Sept. 18, 2009) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed improvements to KY 44 between US 31E and KY 1319 in Bullitt County. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at Bullitt East High School.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Bullitt public meeting on Ky. 44 improvements is rescheduled (Feb. 9, 2009) 

Work to rebuild the I-65 bridges over the Salt River in Bullitt County has been causing gridlock throughout the area: WAVE 3: Gridlock Caused By I-65 Construction Affecting Area Drivers, Businesses (March 30, 2005) 

Wrecks caused backups on I-71 and I-24 and summary of snow response statewide: Associated Press: Winter storm coats parts of Kentucky with snow, ice (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Winter Storm Coats Much Of Kentucky With Snow, Ice (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Summary of snow response in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Kentucky and Ohio counties declare weather emergencies (Dec. 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Now, time to dig out (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Snow response in the Glasgow area: Glasgow Daily Times: Winter storm hits Kentucky (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Motorists became stranded on part of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway near Hopkinsville: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Storm paralyzes region (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher has declared a state of emergency in the following counties and cities: McLean, Hancock, Livingston, Hopkins, City of Providence, City of Owensboro, City of Falmouth, City of Butler, Todd, Daviess, Crittenden, Carlisle, Shelby, Muhlenberg, Pendleton, Bullitt and Grayson: WAVE 3: Governor Ernie Fletcher's Office Declares State of Emergency (Dec. 23, 2004) 

I-64 in Indiana remains closed between Evansville and the Illinois state line. The National Guard has been rescuing stranded motorists along the interstate: Associated Press: Guardsmen Rescuing Travelers Stranded On Southern Indiana Highway (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Stranded travelers recall cold night on snowbound highway (Dec. 23, 2004) , Associated Press: Snow Storm Snarls Much Of Southern, Central Indiana (Dec. 23, 2004) , Evansville Courier & Press: Indiana National Guardsmen rescue stranded motorists from Interstate 64 (Dec. 23, 2004) 

Current Conditions

Information regarding conditions on Kentucky’s highway can be obtained by calling 1-800-RDREPORT, by calling 511 from an in-state telephone, or by visiting ww.511.ky.gov .

Maps of roads that will be cleared by the state government can be found at: www.kytc.state.ky.us/maintenance/Snow_Ice.htm .

In response to the number of accidents along the road, area residents would like to see safety improvements along US 31E between Bardstown and Louisville: WAVE 3: Residents Want Deadly Road Improved (Dec. 21, 2004) 

• A section of the Blue Grass Parkway was temporarily closed in early July due to a chemical spill: WKYT: Bluegrass Parkway Reopened Following Chemical Spill (July 12, 2004) , Associated Press: Accident closes part of Bluegrass Parkway (July 13, 2004) 
• The I-64 Sherman Minton over the Ohio River was temporarily closed in early August after being struck by a barge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-64 bridge closed after being hit by barge (Aug. 8, 2004) 
• Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey gave Associated Press reporter Joe Biesk a guided tour of the Transportation Cabinet’s new headquarters: Bailey relies on military experience as transportation secretary (July 12, 2004) 
• Work continues at the US 41/US 60 interchange in Henderson: The Henderson Gleaner: Another bypass ramp closing (July 13, 2004) 
• The first phase of construction has begun an Oldham County recreation trail. The trail is being constructed on an abandoned railroad right-of-way: Courier-Journal: First phase of construction begins on Oldham walking trail (July 13, 2004) 
• Butler County officials have voted to close Aberdeen Church Road. The road was used by some residents who felt a nearby intersection of KY 79 was unsafe; however, accident data shows that the interchange is not unsafe and Butler County leaders believe the road to be closed is more dangerous: Bowling Green Daily News: Butler says road too dangerous to stay open (July 13, 2004) 
• Several projects in Pulaski County are nearing completion: WYMT Mountain News: Millions Of Dollars Are Being Spent in Road Projects in Southern KY (July 14, 2004) 
• The lack of a state budge could cause delays to a number of road projects statewide: Bowling Green Daily News: Budget: Projects may be delayed (July 14, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Several area highway projects delayed (July 25, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Kentucky's road projects taking bumpy path (July 26, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Stalled budget may stall road projects (July 26, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Western Kentucky road projects facing delays (Aug. 2, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Lawmakers expect widening of U.S. 641 to proceed, despite budget impasse (Aug. 16, 2004) 
• Impact studies related to a project to reconstruct US 31E in Bullitt, Spencer, and Nelson Counties is behind schedule: Kentucky Standard: State's U.S. 31E project behind schedule (July 14, 2004) 
• A hearing regarding Convington’s citation of CSX for allowing a railroad overpass to deteriorate was delayed so CSX could prepare a defense: Kentucky Post: Hearing on rail bridge delayed (July 15, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington wants CSX bridge fixed (July 29, 2004) 
• A resident of Oldham County is backing a campaign to rename the KY 329 Pewee Valley bypass in honor of veterans: Courier-Journal: Oldham bypass is step closer to honoring war veterans (July 16, 2004) , Oldham Era: Legion receives local support to rename bypass (July 30, 2004) 
• A new book on scenic drives will feature Powell County’s Red River Gorge National Scenic Byway among the country’s fifteen best scenic drives: Courier-Journal: Book salutes E. Kentucky scenic route (July 23, 2004) 
• The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss the possible impact of a project to reconstruction KY 55 near the Nelson and Spencer County line: Kentucky Standard: KTC meets with citizens about KY 55 project (July 23, 2004) 
• A $1 million study of I-471 suggests reconstruction of the I-471/I-275 interchange and construction of ramps at the Ohio River bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-471 study to include new ramps at each end (July 28, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed Barry Sanders to serve as chief district engineer for the Transportation Cabinet’s District 5 which is based in Louisville.

More information: KYTC: Governor Ernie Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Clay Bailey Appoint Chief District Engineer for Highway District 5 in Louisville (June 1, 2004) , Business First: State Names Head of Louisville-area Transportation Operation (June 1, 2004) 

• Heartland Parkway  in Central Kentucky. (more information )
• KY 44  in Bullitt County.
• KY 88  in Hart and Grayson Counties.

Officials at Bernheim Forest have recently applied for a grant to construct wildlife crossings to allow deer and other wildlife to cross I-65 in Bullitt County. The bridges would be covered in grass and other vegetation so as to appeal to the animals. Such projects have been used to help reduce roadkill rates in other states. The $20 million grant would be supplemented by $5 million from other sources.

More information: Courier-Journal: $25 million wildlife crossings sought for I-65 (March 28, 2004) 

When the 2004 Recommended Six-Year Highway Plan was released Transportation Cabinet Secretary Maxwell Clay Bailey assured legislators that no projects had been removed the 2002 Six-Year Plan; however, the Courier-Journal has found that fifteen projects scheduled under the 2002 plan were moved to the unscheduled needs list in the new 2004 plan.

More information: Courier-Journal: 15 projects cut from road plan (March 3, 2004) , WKYT: 15 Kentucky Road Projects Cut Due To Budget Crisis (March 4, 2004) , Hardin County News Enterprise: State drops I-65 widening (March 5, 2004) 

[Read Full Text]

The Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News reports that the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) has begun work on updating the Louisville metropolitan area master transportation plan. The next version of the plan is to include all transportation projects planned up through the year 2030. The KIPDA region includes five counties in Kentucky and southern Indiana.

More information: The Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: KIPDA starts work on 2030 transportation master plan (Feb. 28, 2004) , KIPDA: Transportation Division 

State Representative Jodie Haydon, D-Bardstown, is attempting to develop a tourist railway between the Kentucky Railway Musuem in New Haven and Lebanon Junction off of I-65. Such a train faces a number of hurdles, including obtaining permission from CSX to use the line.

More information: (Bardstown) Kentucky Standard: Plans underway to develop potential tourist railway between county, I-65 (Jan. 28, 2004) 

The Kentucky Standard reports that three spots along US 31E in Nelson County are receiving attention due to a high accident rate: High Grove, Gobel Lake Curve and Hibbs Lane accounted for more than 60% of the accident reported along that US 31E north of Bardstown. US 31E through the area is a two-lane road that is much the same as it was originally constructed back in the 1920s.

The Transportation Cabinet plans to reconstruct part of the road between Nazerth and the Salt River; however, construction has been delayed due to historic sites along the route. Construction on the $100 million project is slated to begin in 2008.

One site on US 62 in Nelson County was also noted for a high accident rate.Dump Hill.

More information: (Bardstown) Kentucky Standard: Four spots becoming most dangerous roads in Nelson County (Jan. 16, 2004) 

Mount Washington is home to a bit of signing oddity: instead of the old route of US 31E being marked "Business US 31E" it is marked as "US 31EX." Photos of this oddly signed route can be found here.

WAVE 3  from Louisville reports that an 18-vehicle accident has occured three miles south of Lebanon Junction on I-65. The south bound lanes are closed. So far there are no reports of fatalities, though there are injuries.