Christian County

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 the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 4 on April 17, 2010:

Part of Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway Extension Phase 2 scheduled to open for limited traffic Monday at Hopkinsville
Allows access to Lover’s Lane, Convention Center

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Beginning Monday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to partially open Phase 2 of the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway Extension Project at Hopkinsville. The partial opening will allow access to Lover’s Lane and the nearby Hopkinsville Convention Center.

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From KYTC Department of Highways District 2 (Sept. 14, 2009):

Railroad Work to Create One Lane Traffic on US 41 Between Hopkinsville and Ft. Campbell
Rail overpass to require traffic shift starting Wednesday

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Alltrack, Inc., plans to replace railroad ties and rails along the Masonville railroad overpass on US 41-A/Ft. Campbell Boulevard between Hopkinsville and Ft. Campbell starting Wednesday, September 16, 2009. This work zone is at US 41-A mile point 8.8.

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 2 on August 3, 2009:

Railroad Work to Create One Lane Traffic on US 41 Between Hopkinsville and Ft. Campbell
Rail overpass to require traffic shift starting August 6th

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Alltrack, Inc., plans to replace railroad ties and rails along the railroad overpass on US 41-A/Ft. Campbell Boulevard between Hopkinsville and Ft. Campbell starting August 6, 2009.

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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) 

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) 

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) 

Western Kentuvky’s interstates and parkways were passable, but ice persisted on roads in Christian County on Monday: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Slushing along; Roads improving but still slippery (Dec. 27, 2004) 

More than one foot of snow shut down roads in Caldwell County: Princeton Times Leader: Blizzard conditions plague community (Dec. 27, 2004) 

Warmer temperatures are expected to help clear roads statewide: Associated Press: Forecasters say thaw will begin this week (Dec. 28, 2004) 

A train that had been blocking two railroad crossings in Henderson has been moved: The Henderson Gleaner: Stuck train finally gets moving (Dec. 28, 2004) 

Calloway County road crews hope to get a helping hand from warm weather: Murray Ledger & Times: Road crews hope to get aid from sun (Dec. 28, 2004) 

Hardin County residents are happy with local snow cleanup efforts: Hardin County News-Enterprise: Ice, cold temperatures hamper road cleanup (Dec. 28, 2004) 

Roads in Southern Illinois are slick, but open: WPSD NewsChannel 6: Illinois: Rural Roads Are Open But Slick (Dec. 27, 2004) 

US 41 and I-64 in Southern Indiana are in good shape: Evansville Courier & Press: Thaw turning storm into memory (Dec. 28, 2004) 

Up-to-date road conditions can be found at: www.511.ky.gov 

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 .

Road construction on Fort Campbell Boulevard (US 41A) will cause delays at Fort Campbell’s Gate 7: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Road construction to cause fort delays (Oct. 6, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed chief highway engineers for nine of the Division of Highways' twelve districts.

• Edward “Ted” Merryman has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 1 and 2. Previously, Merryman was chief highway engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Greg Meredith has been reappointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Gary M. Raymer, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 4. [more information ]
• David Jones, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 6. [more information ]
• Jim Rummage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 7. [more information ]
• Katrina O. Bradley, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 9. [more information ]
• Samuel H. Beverage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 10 and 11. [ more information ]

More information: WKYT: Gov. Fletcher Hires New Highway Engineers (June 29, 2004) , Associated Press: Fletcher appoints top highway engineers (June 30, 2004) , Hardin County News-Enterprise: Highway engineer appointed in E'town (June 30, 2004) , Maysville Ledger-Independent: New KTC Engineer Sees District as Unique (July 2, 2004) 

Work on US 41 Alternate in Oak Grove continues this summer. The highway is being widened to five lanes through the town: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Oak Grove highway construction continues (June 12, 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) 

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

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) 

A group of Hopkinsville leaders are lobbying to have I-69 follow the Pennyrile Parkway through Christian County. Current plans are for I-69 to follow the northern tier of the Pennyrile Parkway, the Western Kentucky Parkway, and the Purchase Parkway.

More information: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Breathitt Parkway pushed as alternate route for I-69 (March 17, 2004) 

Public meetings regarding I-69 were held recently in Henderson and Evansville. The Evansville Courier & Press reported on it here: Evansville Courier & Press: Stirring things up Evansville I-69 debate brings out all sides (March 18, 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 Cabinet Secretary Bailey told state legislators on Wednesday that no projects were cut from this year's version of the Six Year Highway plan; however, some projects have delayed due to the states budget problems.

The list of projects is too long to list here; however, some notable projects are listed below.

• $118 million for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project. Some of this money will be raised by selling bonds that would be repaid when promised federal funding is allocated for the project.
• $78 million for reconstruction of the Owensboro bypass to the east of its current alignment. This is meant to improve access to the William H. Natcher Bridge.
• Widening of I-64 from Louisville to Shelbyville.
• Widening of I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Bowling Green.
• Widening of I-75 in Scott and Grant counties.
• Southern extensions of both the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parwkay.

A notable absence from the list is funding for replacing the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River; however, the project remains on the unscheduled needs list and officials claim that it is still a priority. Construction on the project is still over a decade away.

This year the transportation cabinet has split the list into projects that will receive federal funding and projects that will not receive federal funding. Projects that will be funded only by the state are expected to be delayed and will be prioritized by need.

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The spending bill approved by Congress this past Thursday includes funding for a number of Kentucky projects including $9.8 for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project (including money for right-of-way purchase), $2.5 million to replace TARC busses and trolleys in Louisville, and $1.5 million to reconstruct the intersection of KY 911 and KY 115 in Oak Grove.

More information: Courier-Journal: Louisville projects net $36 million (Jan. 23, 2004) , (Louisville) Business First: Louisville projects getting $36.16 million in federal funding (Jan. 22, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Senate OKs $1.5 million for Oak Grove road upgrades (Jan. 24, 2004) 

The US 41A Fort Campbell Boulevard widening project reached a major milestone with the recent opening of six lanes of traffic and continuous left turn lane between within the city of Oak Grove. Construction along the highway is still ongoing.

More information: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: 6 lanes open in Oak Grove (Jan. 14, 2004) 

The plan to build an extension of the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway was voted as one of the Christian County's top ten news stories in 2002.

More information: New Era: 2002: Year in review (Dec. 28, 2002) 

The Kentucky New Era has published this editorial  about the project to extend the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to I-24.

The recommended route for the southern extension of the Pennyrile Parkway has been announced. The selected route, known as red-2, was chosen because it was cheaper, shorter, requires no relocations, takes less land, breaks up fewer properties, and has a better interchange with I-24 compared to other alternatives. The public is invited to comment on the recommendation until Sept. 4, 2002 at which time the Transportation Cabinet will summarize all information gathered and present the data to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The FHWA will then make a final decision to either approve or revise the recommendation. If approved, right of way acquisition could begin in 2003 with utility relocation in 2004 and construction in 2005.

More information:

• KYTC Hand Out - The handout provide information about the project distributed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at the August 20, 2002 Public Hearing.
• Map of Recommended Route - A map of the recommended route provided by the KYTC at the August 20, 2002 Public Hearing.
• Kentucky New Era: Public hearing set Tuesday on Breathitt parkway extension (Aug. 19, 2002) 
• Kentucky New Era: Officials reveal parkway route (Aug. 21, 2002) 

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) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will unveil the final decision on the route for an extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway from its current terminus near Hopkinsville to I-24 at a public meeting scheduled for August 20. The extension is expected to cost $79 million and will fill the seven mile gap between the end of the parkway and the interstate. The KYTC has also announced that there will be no permanent closures of state or county highways along the route.

More information: Kentucky New Era: Road officials to reveal parkway route at meeting (July 31, 2001) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled several planning meetings:

• July 30 - New Elizabethtown-Radcliff Connector 
• July 30 - Reconstruction of KY 536 in Boone County 
• Aug. 8 - I-66 Somerset Northern By-Pass 
• Aug. 13 - Widening US 641 in Calloway County 
• Aug. 14/15 - I-66 Meetings in Warren and Edmonson Counties 
• Aug. 15 - Reconstruction of I-64 and US 60 Interchanges on I-265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) 
• Aug. 20 - I-66 in Ballard and McCracken Counties 
• Aug. 20 - Extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway Extension to I-24 in Christian County 

Funding has been restored to build an extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway from its current terminus near Hopkinsville to I-24 south of Hopkinsville.

More information: Kentucky New Era: Parkway funds back (Apr. 24) 

The Kentucky New Era  reported on April 6 that State Senator Joey Pendleton believes that it is likely that funding will be restored for the extension of the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to I-24.

The budget bill passed by the state House of Representatives did not restore funding for pre-construction work for the extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to I-24; however, State Senator Joey Pendleton (D-Hopkinsville) hopes that funding will be restored in conference committee meetings this weekend. In an earlier article, Pendleton had indicated he believed that the project would be added to the bill before its passage on Tuesday.

More information: Parkway funding not restored. Kentucky New Era. (March 27, 2002) , Pendleton says chances good for restoring parkway extension funding. Kentucky New Era. (March 26, 2002) 

State Rep. Jim Bruce denies a role in the funding delay for building an extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway from it current terminus near Hopkinsville to I-24. Funding for the project has been delayed from 2003 to at least 2005 in the new 2002 Six-Year Highway Plan. There is no formal record of how changes to the plan came about: it was conducted behind closed doors just like much of Kentucky politics has been done for 200 years; however, Rep. Bruce has been widely sighted as the cause for the delay.

Hopkinsville and Christian County officials say that the proposed extension is very important to development in the area.

More information: Kentucky New Era: Bruce denies role in parkway delay , Kentucky New Era: Officials say roadway extension important to county 

The conference version of the Transportation spending bill  has passed both houses of Congress and is now waiting to be signed by the President.

Kentucky is mentioned several places in the bill:

• $2,000,000 for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) providing Eastern Kentucky rural highway information,
• $750,000 for an ITS for Lexington,
• $2,000,000 for a statewide transportation operations center,
• the corridors for I-66 and I-69 have been redefined: I-66 is now defined to use the Nunn Cumberland Parkway and I-69 is now defined to use the Carrol Purchase Parkway,
• Kentucky may now post signs saying "Future I-69" on the Purchase Parkway and "Future I-66" in the Cumberland Parkway,
• $4,000,000 for to help access to an industrial park in Clay and Leslie counties,
• $50,000 for work on Kentucky 55,
• $1,600,000 for work on Kentucky 192 in McCreary county,
• $1,000,000 for improvements to the intersection at the end of Grover Carey Bridge in Owensboro,
• $250,000 for work on Kentucky 61 in Green county,
• $300,000 for work on Kentucky 92 in Whitley county,
• $20,000,000 for I-66 (I believe this is the Somerset-London segment.),
• $2,500,000 for I-66 in Pike County,
• $320,000 for work on KY 1848 between I-64 and US 60,
• $1,000,000 for the Monticello Street underpass in Somerset,
• $1,000,000 for work on the Pennyrile Parkway (I believe this is for the southern extension to I-24),
• $1,500,000 for work on Stone Coal Road in Johnson county,
• $2,000,000 for work on US 25 near Renfro Valley,
• $5,000,000 for work on US 27 between Somerset and KY 70,
• $80,000 for work on US 27 near Burnside,
• $850,000 for work on US 431 near Lewisburg,
• $500,000 for right-of-way for US 60 in Henderson County,
• $100,000 for work on US 41A,
• $50,00 for Estill County bypass lighting around Irvine,
• $300,000 for Estill County industrial park access road,
• $400,000 for Fegenbush Lane Bridge at Fern Creek,
• $1,000,000 for Henderson riverfront project,
• $1,000,000 for engineering work on Kentucky 61 from Kentucky 487 to Columbia,
• $800,000 for Johnstown Road,
• $2,350,000 for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Regional Trail Improvements,
• $1,000,000 for improved access to Louisville's water front park,
• $600,000 for median on US 42 from Harrods Creek to River Road,
• $1,800,000 for Owensboro Riverfront redevelopment project,
• $42,600 for Park City sidewalks,
• $2,000,000 for Somerset downtown revitalization,
• $6,600,000 for Southern bypass around the southwestern portion of Somerset,
• $125,000 for Vine Grove sidewalks,
• $2,000,000 for Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge,
• $1,400,000 for Cold Hill Road,
• $995,000 for Craigs Creek Road,
• $1,500,000 for Daniel Boone Parkway between mileposts 37 and 44,
• $2,000,000 for Brent Spence Bridge replacement I-75 and I-71 near Cincinnati,
• $375,000 for work at I-75 Exit 11,
• $2,500,000 for Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project,
• $885,000 for Kentucky Scenic byways (Country Music Highway, Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, Cumberland Cultural Heritage Highway),
• $30,000,000 for work Appalachian Development Highway System,
• $4,534,000 for the Kentucky Transportation Department to provide buses, vans, cutaways, and bus facilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
• $1,500,000 for Big South Fork Scenic Railroad enhancement project, and
• $5,000,000 for Southern Kentucky Intermodal Transportation Park.

Quite an impressive haul; however, there is no funding for I-175.

In a bit of old news, this June 28, 2001 article  in Hopkinsville's Kentucky New Era reports that recently approved funding means that the KYTC will be able to move ahead on right-of-way purchases for an extension of the Pennyrile Parkway from Hopkinsville to I-24.

Update 3:56pm Nov. 8: Here is a Jan. 31, 2001 article  about the extension to the parkway.