KY 17

Work began last month on the final phase of the KY 17 widening project in Kenton County. The widening project includes the construction of bicycle lanes along part of the route.

More information: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Last phase of Ky. 17 improvement project set (Sept. 21, 2005) 

The Kentucky Post takes a look at this history of the Roebling Suspension Bridge: Kentucky Post: After many false starts, Roebling spanned the Ohio (Sept. 12, 2005) 

Work is set to begin on the second phase of a KY 17 widening project in Kenton County: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Ky. 17 work ready to start (Aug. 27, 2005) 

Barring any unforeseen problems, the Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington will be repainted next summer: Kentucky Post: River Rainbow (May 14, 2005) 

Covington city officials recently helped the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet perform a traffic study to examine patterns of traffic coming from the Roebling Suspension Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: Traffic patterns getting hard look (May 3, 2005) 

The Roebling Suspension Bridge will be painted this year, but a color has to be chosen first: Cincinnati Enquirer: Is UK blue OK hue for Roebling? (March 26, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Pick a color, any color (March 26, 2005) 

Residents of Licking Riverside Historic Neighborhood in Covington are seeking traffic changes to reduce thru traffic through neighborhood streets. The neighborhood sits near the approach to the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: New traffic route urged (March 14, 2005) 

Roundabouts are proposed for several intersections in Northern Kentucky, and in order to help drivers adjust the Northern Kentucky Planning Commission is sponsoring a Roundabout Workshop this evening: Cincinnati Enquirer: N.Ky. faces learning curve on roundabouts (Jan. 9, 2005) 

The Roebling Suspension Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington has recently been targeted by vandals. One of the stone supports under the Covington approach has been covered in graffiti in recent weeks: Kentucky Post: Vandals Deface Historic Bridge (July 1, 2004) 

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky was last painted in 1980. Today the paint is chipping and the bridge is rusting; however, it is unlikely the bridge will be painted anytime soon. At one point, the bridge was planned to be repainted in 1998; however, Kentucky delayed the project because of construction on Fort Washington Way in Cincinnati. Now a debate over the color to paint the bridge and a tight budget has kept the $6 million project from being listed in the Six-Year Road Plan.

More information: Kentucky Post: The forgotten bridge (June 1, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge Rusts Amid Debate Over Color (June 18, 2004) 

Area leaders are concerned about the state of the John A. Roebling Bridge over the Ohio River between Covington and Cincinnati. While the L&N Bridge and I-471 bridge have recently been repainted, the suspension bridge still suffers from exterior rusting. State transportation officials say the exterior rust poses no danger to the integrity of the bridge and that the over $6 million price tag is delaying the repainting effort.

More information: Kentucky Post: $6 million paint job for bridge Tight finances hold up Suspension Bridge work (May 18, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Suspension Bridge needs paint (May 18, 2004) , Cincinnati Post: $6 million paint job for bridge (May 18, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Changes ahead for Roebling Suspension Bridge (May 18, 2004) 

The city of Fort Wright held a public meeting Tuesday to discuss future development along KY 17 in the city. There is some concern that the stretch of road could become a chokepoint for traffic to and form I-275.

More information: (Northern) Kentucky Post: Fort Wright to study Ky. 17 (March 8, 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.

Update (Feb. 29, 2004): More information about projects in particular areas can be found here.

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Due to construction along Cincinnati.s river front, the Roebling Suspension Bridge will be open only to south bound traffic through March. A detour for north bound travelers is marked.

More information: City of Covington: Roebling Suspension Bridge to be Temporarily Converted to One-Way Traffic 

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports in this August 24, 2001 article  that delays related to a new bridge may delay the opening of the new KY 17 until next year.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports in this August 3, 2001 article  that work on the KY 17 expansion project in Kenton county is near completion. When the project is completed, rapid growth is expected in this largely undeveloped area of Kenton county.