Daniel Boone Parkway/Hal Rogers Parkway

The Courier-Journal takes a look at the proposed Interstate 66: Courier-Journal: I-66: A road to growth or path of destruction?; Environmental impact statement for first Kentucky leg being studied (Feb. 26, 2006) 

Gov. Fletcher recently signed documents naming US 25E from Corbin to Middlesboro the Daniel Boone-Cumberland Gap Wilderness Trail. Controversy arose in 2003 when outgoing Gov. Paul Patton (a Democrat) renamed the Daniel Boone Parkway in honor of sitting U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers (a Republican).

More information: WKYT: Daniel Boone to get back on the road (Aug. 8, 2005) , Associated Press: Daniel Boone's name to go on Highway U.S. 25E (Aug. 9, 2005) , Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Communication Office: Governor Ernie Fletcher signs Executive Order naming southeastern Kentucky road after Daniel Boone (Aug. 9, 2005) 

The Knox County Fiscal Court recently passed a resolution in support of the I-66 Foundation. The foundation was created last year to promote the construction of the proposed Interstate 66 through Southern Kentucky. Interstate 66 is not expected to pass through Knox County; however, Knox County is adjacent to Clay and Laurel Counties where I-66 is expected to parallel the Hal Rogers Parkway.

More information: Corbin Times-Tribune: Knox backs I-66 Foundation (March 10, 2005) 

Another legislative session brings about another effort to rename a highway in honor of Daniel Boone. Current efforts are focused on renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro—which roughly follows the route of Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Trail—in honor of the early explorer. The former Daniel Boone Parkway between London and Hazard is likely to remain named for U.S. Representative Hal Rogers.

The Boone Society has posted a petition requesting that US 25E be renamed in honor of Daniel Boone on their website: The Boone Society 

More information: Associated Press: Replacing Daniel Boone not easy for congressman (Feb. 17, 2005) 

Astute observers will note that the text of the sidebar on the above referenced article is taken almost word-for-word from my topic describing the Daniel Boone Parkway/Hal Rogers Parkway.

The Lexington Herald-Leader profiles U.S. Representative Hal Rogers who the dub the Prince of Pork: Lexington Herald-Leader: Prince of Pork; Hal Rogers hauls home tax dollars by the billions (Feb. 6, 2005) 

Descendants of Daniel Boone feel slighted by Kentucky politicians. First Paul Patton had the Daniel Boone Parkway renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway, and then state legislature failed to either re-rename the Hal Rogers Parkway or rename another road in honor of Boone.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Descendants of Daniel Boone feel insulted by politicians (Feb. 1, 2005) 

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would keep the name Hal Rogers Parkway on the London-Harzard parkway and would name US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro the “Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail.” The house hopes that this compromise will be acceptable since US 25E roughly follows the path of Wilderness Trail. Daniel Boone helped blaze the Wilderness Trail in 1769. The path through the Cumberland Gap helped open Kentucky to settlement.

More information: WKYT: Daniel Boone May Have Another Road Named for Him (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: House votes to name highway for Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Resolution would name road after Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Part of U.S. 25E could be Daniel Boone Trail (Feb. 21, 2004) , Legislative Research Commission: Text of 2004 Regular Session House Joint Resolution 7 

Update (Feb. 24, 2004): More information: Middlesboro Daily News: Bill would name 25E for Daniel Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Wilderness trail may bear Daniel Boone's name (Feb. 23, 2004) 

Not all lawmakers are pleased with the plan to once again rename the parkway between London and Hazard. State Representatives Tommy Turner and Marie Rader think it would be waste of money to once again install new signs along the parkway.

More information: London Sentinel-Echo: Boone name may return (Feb. 10, 2004) , Somerset Commonwealth Journal: Committee votes to restore Boone.s name to parkway (Feb. 11, 2004) 

An editorial writer for the Courier-Journal proposes more dually named highways in addition to the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway and the Daniel Boone-Hal Rogers Parkway: Courier-Journal: The more the merrier (Feb. 7, 2004) 

A committee of the state general assembly has approved renaming replacing Daniel Boone's name on the parkway running between London and Hazard. The highway was known as the Daniel Boone Parkway until last spring when former Gov. Patton renamed it the Hal Rogers Parkway, in honor of the local U.S. representative. Under the proposed legislation the road would be officially known as the Daniel Boone-Hal Rogers Parkway. The legislation must be approved by the full house before moving onto the state senate.

More information: Associated Press: Developments in the General Assembly (Feb. 5, 2004) , WKYT: Daniel Boone Parkway? , Associated Press: Kentucky House panel OKs proposal to restore Boone's name to parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Parkway may be Daniel Boone's again (Feb. 6, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Nash highway resolution passes unanimously (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Boone, Rogers may share parkway name (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Committee OKs putting Boone's name back parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Panel votes to restore Boone name to road (Feb. 6, 2004) 

Former Governor Louie B. Nunn (1924-2004) died of heart failure yesterday, Thursday, January 29, 2004. He was 79. Gov. Nunn is remembered, among other things, for his contribution to the state's highway system. He proposed building roads connecting the state from east-to-west; during his term as governor from 1967-1971 more toll road bonds were issued to pay for highway construction than during the previous two administrations.

During his term of office, I-65, I-71, and I-75 were completed; a total of 585 miles of interstate highways were opened; and the Audubon Parkway and Daniel Boone Parkways were approved for construction. Additionally, planning work for the Cumberland Parkway and Green River Parkway (now Natcher Parkway) began.

More information: Courier-Journal: Former governor, force in GOP, dies (Jan. 30, 2004) , Associated Press: Highlights of Nunn's Term (Jan. 30, 2004) , Associated Press: Former Gov. Louie B. Nunn dead at 79 (Jan. 30, 2004) , Associated Press: GOP pioneer Nunn dead (Jan. 30, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Nunn legacy remembered here (Jan. 30, 2004) 

U.S. Representative Hal Rogers announced in December that a significant amount of transportation funding had been secured for Kentucky. Projects include $20 million for Kentucky's Appalachian Regional Corridor highways, $1.5 million for I-75 widening in Rockcastle County, $1 million for reconstruction of 7 miles of the Hal Rogers Parkway, and $8.5 million for I-66 in Pike County and Pulaski County.

More information: WYMT Mountain News: Rogers Announces Funding for I-66, Other Kentucky Transportation Priorities (Dec. 3, 2003) 

A newly reconstructed section of KY 30 has opened in Laurel County. The new stretch of highway connects with old KY 30 near KY 1227 to the Hal Rogers/Daniel Boone Parkway north of London.

More information: KYTC Press Release: New Section of KY 30 Now Open To Traffic (October 31, 2003) 

The last few months have seen the renaming of two parkways and the AA Highway. The Kentucky Post editorialized the situation: Kentucky Post: The name game (Sept. 17, 2003) 

State Representative Brent Yonts has filed a resolution to place two names on the parkway connecting London and Hazard. Yonts proposes the parkway be officially known as both the Hal Rogers Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. He hopes that the compromise proposal will please those wishing to keep Daniel Boone.s name on the parkway and still provide recognition for U.S. congressman Hal Rogers. Rep. Rogers helped secure federal money to remove tolls from the parkway; In May, Governor Paul Patton directed that the parkway be renamed as the Hal Rogers Parkway. Yonts. resolution cannot be voted on until the General Assembly convenes in January.

Meanwhile, Governor Patton proposed renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro to honor Daniel Boone. US 25E generally follows the route of Boone.s Wilderness Road. The road has been upgraded to four lanes over the pass 20 years.

More information: Courier-Journal: E. Kentucky parkway could get 2 names (Sept. 11, 2003) , Associated Press: Patton Makes Suggestion To Solve Parkway Uproar (Sept. 19, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Governor would name U.S.25E for Boone to defuse controversy (Sept. 20, 2003) 

A group representing the descendants of Daniel Boone has launched a PR campaign to express their outrage over the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway as the Hal Rogers Parkway. For the first time, a spokesman for Gov. Patton admitted that the governor recommended the name change to the Transportation Cabinet.

Former Gov. Louie B. Nunn has offered a renaming compromise. He has proposed renaming the Cumberland Parkway in honor of Congressman Rogers. In 2000, the state legislature renamed the Cumberland Parkway the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway in honor of the former governor without his consent. Nunn says the signs on the parkway could easily be changed to honor Hal Rogers.

More information: Associated Press: Descendants furious over removal of Daniel Boone's name from Kentucky highway (Aug. 23, 2003) , Associated Press: Former governor offers compromise to restore Daniel Boone's name to Kentucky parkway (Aug. 27, 2003) 

The Kentucky Post has published another editorial concerning the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway: Kentucky Post: Forgetting a hero (Aug. 7, 2003) 

On August 6, the Associated Press picked up the news of the Daniel Boone Parkway being renamed for Congressman Hal Rogers: Associated Press: Congressman's name takes place of Daniel Boone's on Kentucky parkway (Aug. 6, 2003) 

Sources as varied as The Guardian , a British newspaper, and The Washington Times  picked up the story.

Update Aug 8, 2003: The Courier-Journal has posted an editorial concerning the renaming: Courier-Journal: Boone vs. Rogers (Aug. 8, 2003) 

A public meeting for I-66 planning in Pulaski and Laurel Counties brought out several anti-I-66 groups. The Transportation Cabinet is conducting a study to determine the route for I-66 between London and Somerset. This will replace the two-lane KY 80, the current major east-west corridor in the region.

Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers has used his position on the transportation appropriations subcommittee to have money for Southern Kentucky road projects included a draft version of the Fiscal Year 2004 Transportation Appropriations Committee. The money includes $4.5 million for continuing work on designing I-66 in Pulaski and Laurel Counties, $2 million for I-66 in Pike County, $2 million to improve US 27 north of Somerset, $1.5 million for widening I-75 in Rockcastle County, and $1 million to fund the reconstruction of the Hal Rogers Parkway between mileposts 33 and 47 in Leslie County.

More information: Somerset Commonwealth Journal: Controversial Corridor (July 28, 2003) , Somerset Commonwealth Journal: Federal Funding (July 18, 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.

Updated: 21-Jul-2003 2:00PM CDT

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released the 2003 version of the official highway map on May 29. There were no apparent major changes over the previous year's, except for the fact that on June 10, the map was modified to show the former Daniel Boone Parkway as the Hal Rogers Parkway.

More information: KYTC: Official Highway Map 

The map is now available in rest areas. I picked up a copy at the Paducah Welcome Center yesterday. The cover art is a photograph of the William H. Natcher Bridge.

Midnight June 1, 2003 marked the end of tolls on the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. Transportation officials and U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers commemorated the occasion on June 9 at the London toll both on the Daniel Boone Parkway. At the ceremony, Congressman Rogers personally manned a bulldozer and knocked over one of the toll booths. It was also revealed at this ceremony that the Daniel Boone Parkway would be renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway.

Read more for more information about Hal Rogers, the removal of tolls, pictures of the parkways, the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway, and the controversy it sparked.

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U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers has secured $13 million in federal spending to eliminate tolls from the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. The state currently owes $26 million in bonds on the parkway system. This federal funding will eliminate half of the outstanding debt and allow the state to refinance the rest at a lower interest rate.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Rogers: Tollbooths on Daniel Boone & Cumberland Parkways are Coming Down , Herald-Leader: Tolls to end on 2 parkways (Feb. 15, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Tolls to end on Daniel Boone, Cumberland parkways (Feb. 16, 2003) , Daily Independent: Toll charges to be eliminated on highways (Feb. 16, 2003) 

[Read Full Text]

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has released the final report  of a scoping study concerning the construction of an access road to the Daniel Boone Parkway in Clay and Leslie Counties.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has named Kentucky's parkway system and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel as Kentucky's top road project. They also recognized Wendell Ford and Calvin Grayson as the state's top transportation officials.

More information: KYTC Press Release 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Professional Services has posted several procurement bulletins . Even if you aren't a contractor, these bulletins are useful for learning about upcoming road projects. Recent bulletins include:

• preliminary design of a new interchange near mile 27 on the Daniel Boone Parkway ,
• widening of Hurstbourne Parkway (KY 1747) near I-64 and US 60 in Jefferson County ,
• reconstruct KY 1848 near I-64 in Shelby County ,
• preliminary engineering for reconstructing part of KY 194 in Pike County ,
• design for US 641 relocation in Crittenden and Lyon county ,
• design for US 60 widening in Ballard and McCracken county ,
• scoping study for the proposed Heartland Parkway ,
• bridge replacement on KY 22 in Pendleton county ,
• design for KY 1/KY 7 widening project in Carter county ,
• design of a new connector between KY 6 and the Corbin by-pass in Knox and Whitley counties ,
• and preliminary engineering of a railroad grade separation on KY 80 in Pike County .

The decision has apparently been made that Kentucky's future Interstate 66 and Interstate 69 will apparently use existing parkways. As reported earlier on KentuckyRoads.com, the 2002 Kentucky Official Highway Map shows parts of the Western Kentucky Parkway, Natcher Parkway, and Breathitt Parkway as Future I-66 and Future I-69. On Feb. 25, the Evansville Courier & Press carried an article stating that the map indicates that I-69 and I-66 will follow the existing parkways.

Email correspondence with Mike Hancock, executive director of the Transportation Cabinet's Office of Program Planning and Management, confirms that the decision has been made to utilize as much of the exiting parkway system as possible to route I-66 and I-69. Hancock said, "we are involved in a planning study that will help us determine the costs and impacts associated with upgrading the Parkways affected by I-69 to interstate standards. We will use this study to help us assess similar needs and issues relative to the I-66 Corridor." The parkways do not currently meet federal standards for interstates and will need to be upgraded before they officially become interstates.

Federal legislation has directed Kentucky to use the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway as part of I-66 and the Julian M. Carroll Purchase Parkway as part of I-69. This legislation also directed Kentucky to erect "Future I-66" signs along the Cumberland Parkway and "Future I-69" signs along the Purchase Parkway. Hancock indicated that the Transportation Cabinet is working to erect this signs very soon.

More information: MyInKy.com - Sketching out I-69 

After examining press releases from Congressman Fletcher  (no longer online) and Congressman Rogers , I have learned more specific details about what projects Kentucky's money in the 2002 U.S. Department of Transportation spending bill has been allocated for:

• $20 million for land acquisition and planning efforts for Interstate 66, with an additional $2.5 million provided for ongoing design efforts of I-66 in Pike County.
• $2 million for a new initiative at the University of Kentucky. The Academy for Community Transportation Innovation will educate professionals and study transportation development, planning and design of suburban and rural areas.
• $2 million to help Kentucky establish a statewide clearinghouse for public travel information.
• $2 million for a project to provide traffic information through a universal telephone number (5-1-1). The pilot project will build a first generation 511 call center in Kentucky that could become a national resource for traffic information.
• $15.5 million for bus and bus facility needs across Kentucky.
• $1.5 million for preliminary work on a project to straighten a dangerous section of the Daniel Boone Parkway in Leslie County between mileposts 37 and 44
• $4 million for improved access to the Parkway from the new Clay/Leslie County Industrial Park
• $2 million for continued work on a project to improve US 25N in Rockcastle County to provide for increased traffic at the new Country Music Hall of Fame
• $1.4 million to improve Cold Hill Road, located in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Laurel County
• $995,000 to improve a stretch of Craigs Creek Road on U.S. Forest Service land in Laurel County
• $885,000 for improvements to Kentucky’s Scenic Byways, including the Country Music Highway, the Wilderness Road Heritage Highway and the Cumberland Cultural Heritage Highway.
• $800,000 for the design phase of a 4-lane project on a section of US 27 south of Somerset to Burnside Island.
• $500,000 to widen Leestown Road in Lexington.

The Division of Planning's 2002 Official Highway Map can now be downloaded from here . The map now indicated the proposed corridors for Interstate 66 and Interstate 69.