KY 22

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has proposed rebuilding four miles of KY 22 between Crestwood to Centerfield in Oldham County: Courier-Journal: Work proposed on Ky. 22 in Oldham; Widening planned east of Crestwood (Nov. 11, 2005) 

A new connector route has opened in the Grant County city of Dry Ridge. The new route connects I-75 with US 25: Grant County News: Dry Ridge bypass opens (July 7, 2005) , (Covington) Kentucky Post: New Dry Ridge bypass is drawing accolades (Sept. 7, 2005) 

A new bypass around the Grant County community of Dry Ridge will soon be open to traffic. A dedication ceremony was scheduled for today.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Dry Ridge bypass may spur business; New highway serves growing Grant County (June 28, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently unveiled long-term plans to improve KY 22 in southeast Jefferson County: Louisville Courier-Journal: Ky.22 overhauls unveiled; Study suggests wider highway, other ideas (June 10, 2005) 

• A section of the Blue Grass Parkway was temporarily closed in early July due to a chemical spill: WKYT: Bluegrass Parkway Reopened Following Chemical Spill (July 12, 2004) , Associated Press: Accident closes part of Bluegrass Parkway (July 13, 2004) 
• The I-64 Sherman Minton over the Ohio River was temporarily closed in early August after being struck by a barge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-64 bridge closed after being hit by barge (Aug. 8, 2004) 
• Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey gave Associated Press reporter Joe Biesk a guided tour of the Transportation Cabinet’s new headquarters: Bailey relies on military experience as transportation secretary (July 12, 2004) 
• Work continues at the US 41/US 60 interchange in Henderson: The Henderson Gleaner: Another bypass ramp closing (July 13, 2004) 
• The first phase of construction has begun an Oldham County recreation trail. The trail is being constructed on an abandoned railroad right-of-way: Courier-Journal: First phase of construction begins on Oldham walking trail (July 13, 2004) 
• Butler County officials have voted to close Aberdeen Church Road. The road was used by some residents who felt a nearby intersection of KY 79 was unsafe; however, accident data shows that the interchange is not unsafe and Butler County leaders believe the road to be closed is more dangerous: Bowling Green Daily News: Butler says road too dangerous to stay open (July 13, 2004) 
• Several projects in Pulaski County are nearing completion: WYMT Mountain News: Millions Of Dollars Are Being Spent in Road Projects in Southern KY (July 14, 2004) 
• The lack of a state budge could cause delays to a number of road projects statewide: Bowling Green Daily News: Budget: Projects may be delayed (July 14, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Several area highway projects delayed (July 25, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Kentucky's road projects taking bumpy path (July 26, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Stalled budget may stall road projects (July 26, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Western Kentucky road projects facing delays (Aug. 2, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Lawmakers expect widening of U.S. 641 to proceed, despite budget impasse (Aug. 16, 2004) 
• Impact studies related to a project to reconstruct US 31E in Bullitt, Spencer, and Nelson Counties is behind schedule: Kentucky Standard: State's U.S. 31E project behind schedule (July 14, 2004) 
• A hearing regarding Convington’s citation of CSX for allowing a railroad overpass to deteriorate was delayed so CSX could prepare a defense: Kentucky Post: Hearing on rail bridge delayed (July 15, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington wants CSX bridge fixed (July 29, 2004) 
• A resident of Oldham County is backing a campaign to rename the KY 329 Pewee Valley bypass in honor of veterans: Courier-Journal: Oldham bypass is step closer to honoring war veterans (July 16, 2004) , Oldham Era: Legion receives local support to rename bypass (July 30, 2004) 
• A new book on scenic drives will feature Powell County’s Red River Gorge National Scenic Byway among the country’s fifteen best scenic drives: Courier-Journal: Book salutes E. Kentucky scenic route (July 23, 2004) 
• The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss the possible impact of a project to reconstruction KY 55 near the Nelson and Spencer County line: Kentucky Standard: KTC meets with citizens about KY 55 project (July 23, 2004) 
• A $1 million study of I-471 suggests reconstruction of the I-471/I-275 interchange and construction of ramps at the Ohio River bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-471 study to include new ramps at each end (July 28, 2004) 

Right-of-way acquisition has recently been completed for the KY 393 widening project between KY 22 and Interstate 71 in Oldham County. This keeps construction on track to begin in 2004.

More information: Oldham County Era: Ky. 393 widening on track for 2004 (Oct. 13, 2003) 

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) 

From http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/news/dryridge.htm :

COVINGTON, Ky.-- (September 16, 2002) –Transportation Secretary James Codell III along with local and state officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in Dry Ridge today to celebrate the beginning of construction of the East Dry Ridge Connector. Rifle Coal Company, in joint venture with Judy Construction Company, has been awarded the $9.5 million contract and will start construction by September 21, 2002. The project includes the construction of a new three lane connector route from US 25 south of Dry Ridge…east of the Norfolk Southern Railroad…then over the Norfolk Southern Railroad before tying into KY 22 near the I-75 Interchange. Secretary Codell said the new connector will benefit the people of Dry Ridge in three ways. "This new route will provide better access to the Dry Ridge Industrial Park…provide a safer way for motorists to cross the railroad tracks and…alleviate traffic congestion through the downtown area."

The need and possible locations for a new interchange on I-71 between the Gene Snyder Freeway (Interstate 265/KY 841) and the Crestwood interchange (Exit 14) will be studied. Oldham County will contribute $10,000 to the study; the state will contribute $35,000; and Hills Communities, a Jefferson County development firm, will contribute $62,000. The interchange is being studied in the hope of relieving traffic on KY 22. No plans to build an interchange are currently in the state's Six Year Highway Plan; however, that document is amended on a bi-annual basis.

More information: Courier-Journal: Need for new interchange will be studied (Jun. 13, 2002) 

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 .