Hancock County

A project to add shoulders to a section of US 60 in Hancock County has been delayed after a survey found a natural gas pipeline under the state right-of-way. Extensive excavation would be required to move the pipeline.

More information: Hancock County Clarion: Widening on U.S. 60 westbound section facing likely delay (Sept. 30, 2005) 

This summer the state will install shoulders along a section of US 60 in Hancock County: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: State to widen U.S. 60 stretch of U.S. 60 (June 10, 2005) 

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer takes a look at unique county road names; names like Muddy Gut Road, Rattlesnake Hill Road, and Possum Trot Road: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Name Game; Tywhoppity? Muddy Gut Road? What's in a name? (Feb. 27, 2005) 

As of 1:00pm Eastern Time today, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Operations Center reports that the following roads are closed due to high water or rock slides:

Boone County: KY 20 (milepost 2 to 4); KY 1292 (milepost 2.50 because of a rock slide); KY 2852 (milepost 0 to 1)

Butler County: KY 403 (milepost 4 to 5)

Campbell County: KY 10 (milepost 10.60 because of a rock slide); KY 1566 (milepost 0 to 1.81); KY 1936 (milepost 1.20 because of a rock slide); KY 2921 (milepost 0 to 0.68); KY 2924 (milepost 1.70 because of a rock slide)

Carlisle County: KY 1628 (milepost 3 to 4); KY 1820 (milepost 2 to 3)

Fulton County: KY 1129 (milepost 0 to 9.64); KY 1354 (milepost 0 to 0.40)

Hancock County: KY 334 (milepost 18 to 19)

Henderson County: KY 136 (milepost 0 to 7); KY 268 (milepost 6 to 7); KY 414 (milepost 0 to 0.84); KY 811 (milepost 3 to 6); KY 3522 (milepost 0 to 0.39)

Hickman County: KY 123 (milepost 14 to 16)

Union County: KY 667 (milepost 0 to 16.54); KY 1452 (milepost 0 to 1.98); KY 1637 (milepost 0 to 2.96); KY 130 (milepost 16 to 16.02); KY 668 (milepost 0 to 1); KY 871 (milepost 3 to 6); KY 1508 (milepost 3 to 6)

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

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: More roads through out Kentucky shut down because of high water, rock slides (Jan. 10, 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 .

A recent planning study by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recommends that a new route be constructed to the Bob Cummings Lincoln Trail Bridge in Hawesville: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Easier access to bridge is sought (Nov. 24, 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 

The new U.S. Highway 60 Corridor Safety Task Team will meet at Green River Area Development District in Owensboro tomorrow, Nov. 17, at 10:00am to discuss efforts to increase driver safety along US 60: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Group focusing on U.S. 60 safety (Nov. 9, 2004) 

The US 60 Highway Safety Corridor committee met in September to discuss using a team concept to increase safety along US 60 in Hancock, Daviess, Henderson, and Union counties: Union County Advocate: Highway safety meeting today in Owensboro (Sept. 29, 2004) 

A new connector route in Indiana provides a new route from Hawesville to I-64 in southern Indiana. The new Indiana 237 connects the Bob Cummings Bridge over the Ohio River at Hawesville to Indiana 37 and I-64.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Connector to I-64 opens in Perry County (Oct. 4, 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) 

The Kentucky Transportation and Tourism Interagency Committee recently approved a scenic byway through Daviess, Hancock, Ohio, Muhlenberg, McLean, Webster, Union and Henderson counties that will highlight the region.s music heritage.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Scenic byway will feature musical legends (Dec. 12, 2003) 

Transportation officials held a meeting in December to consider changing the approach to the Bob Cummings-Lincoln Trail Bridge in Hawesville. Any changes are not scheduled for construction in the current Six Year Plan; however, locals hope a lobbying campaign will move the project higher up the state.s list of priorities.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: State mulls changes in Hawesville bridge approach (Dec. 12, 2003) , KYTC Division of Planning: KY-69 approach to Cannelton Bridge , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Road proposal draws residents' concerns (Dec. 19, 2003) 

The four-lane Natcher Bridge currently serves only 4,500 vehicles per day while the two-lane Grover Carey Bridge in Owensboro serves 10,000 vehicles per day and the two-lane Bob Cummings-Lincoln Trail Bridge at Hawesville serves 8,900 vehicles per day; however, transportation officials expect traffic on the bridge to increase once an extension of the Owensboro bypass is completed and US 231 is widened to four lanes in Indiana.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Traffic count expected to rise (Dec. 7, 2003) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: U.S. 231 widening moving forward (Dec. 14, 2003) 

Jan. 15, 2004 Update: Courier-Journal: New bridge has less traffic than projected (Jan. 13, 2004) 

Jan. 20, 2004 Update: The (Henderson) Gleaner: Study: Natcher Bridge traffic light (Jan. 13, 2004) 

A project to repave a short section KY 54 near the Owensboro US 60 By-pass has begun and is expected to last until mid-August. Though the stretch of highway is only eleven years old, the pavement has become deeply rutted; this project's aim is to correct that problem.

Other Daviess County projects include work to improve drainage on the William H. Natcher Parkway and pavement rehabilitation on US 60 east of Owensboro in Daviess and Hancock Counties.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: Kentucky 54 resurfacing under way (July 24, 2003)  (free registration required; includes photograph of construction work)

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is planning to study building a new road to the Bob Cummings Bridge over the Ohio River at Hawesville. The new road would connect the bridge to US 60. The new road is being studies because the Indiana Department of Transportation is building a new road (IN 237) to connect the bridge to I-64. The current intersection at the end of the bridge is prone to accidents. The Immaculate Conception Church has been struck by cars failing to stop on seven occasions.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Cabinet to study roadways leading to Hawesville bridge (Apr. 29, 2002)  (no longer online)