Hopkins County

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 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) 

Associated Press: Debate grows over impact of I-69 in western Ky., Tenn. (Aug. 7, 2005) 

Higher temperatures during the day may have melted some of the ice and snow along Kentucky’s highways; however, falling temperatures during nights is causing some of it to refreeze. Refreezing made parts of the Western Kentucky Parkway and Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway impassible Christmas night: Associated Press: State asks drivers to avoid western Kentucky parkways (Dec. 26, 2004) , Associated Press: Motorist should use caution traveling (Dec. 26, 2004) 

Current information regarding highway conditions can be found at: www.511.ky.gov .

On Christmas Day, snow and ice remained in the travel lanes of I-65 in several places. In the Louisville area, a number of abandoned vehicles remained along the shoulders and, in some cases, the travel lanes of I-65 and the Watterson Expressway. Secondary routes in both Warren and Jefferson County were still snow and ice covered; as were many of the ramps entering and leaving I-65.

Cleanup continued through Friday on I-24: Associated Press: Kentuckians continue to dig out of holiday snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Kentuckians continue to dig out of snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: State making progress on western Kentucky roads (Dec. 25, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Some still without power, roads cleared (Dec. 25, 2004) 

The Maysville area recovered quickly from the storm: Maysville Ledger Independent: White Christmas more shiny than fluffy; road crews scramble (Dec. 24, 2004) 

Several accidents were reported on I-71 near mile marker 58 in Gallatin County: Associated Press: Cold keeps its hold on state (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Improving conditions allowed shoppers to return the stores on Christmas Eve in Owensboro: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Shoppers are back on track; Improving road conditions send residents heading to stores (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Summary of snow response in Henderson County: The Henderson Gleaner: Most crews stay busy helping folks, clearing roadways (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Problems continued on I-64 and I-65 in Indiana through Friday: The Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: Snow freezes region; state of emergency declared (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Some Roads Reopening After Record Snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press: A long stranded trip (Dec. 24, 2004) , New Albany (Ind.) Tribune: City struggles to keep streets clear as snow piles up (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Interstates reopen to travelers in Midwest (Dec. 25, 2004) , Evansville Courier & Press: Snow gives travelers tales to tell (Dec. 25, 2004) , Associated Press: Some Indiana highways remained slick but passable after snow (Dec. 25, 2004) , Associated Press: Indiana highways slick but passable (Dec. 26, 2004) 

Paducah area information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: UPDATE: Major Roads Now Open (Dec. 24, 2004) 

More information: Associated Press: Warmth aids road crews (Dec. 25, 2004) 

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 .

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) 

A report by a tax watchdog group and environmental activist group denounces plans to construct a new Ohio River bridge in eastern Jefferson County and plans to construct Interstate 66 across Kentucky: Courier-Journal: East End bridge draws fire (June 3, 2004) 

The 60-day regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly ended on April 13. Thirteen bills relating to transportation were passed into law during the 2004 regular session. Click “read full text” below for summaries of each bill.

[Read Full Text]

The transportation cabinet’s division of planning has recently released information regarding KY 30 on Jackson and Owsley Counties  and US 41A in Hopkins County .

The state's budget problems will prevent the transportation cabinet from completing projects on schedules. In some cases, projects which are already underway may be halted.

Projects cited are the reconstruction of the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265)/KY 22 interchange, widening of KY 70 in Hopkins County, and a bridge replacement project in Knott County.

More information: Associated Press: Transportation projects will be delayed because of budget woes (Jun. 16, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has posted information from public meeting concerning I-69 between Eddyville and Henderson.

More information: http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/planning/pl-projects/projects/I-69/i69_9.30.02/i69_9.30.02.shtm 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be holding a series of four public meetings concerning the route of I-69 between Henderson and Eddyville. I-69 is expected to follow the Pennyrile Parkway and the Western Kentucky Parkway between these two cities.

More information:

• MyInKy.com: State eyes parkways for I-69 path (Sept. 4, 2002) 
• KYTC's Division of Planning: Proposed Interstate 69 
• KYTC: Announcement of Public Information Meetings 

Thanks for Chris at I69info.com  for the heads up about these meetings.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released information about planning for I-69 between Eddyville and Henderson in western Kentucky. The cabinet is studying improvements that would be needed to bring the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway to interstate standards.

More information: KYTC: Proposed Interstate 69