KY 841

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Indiana Department of Transportation (Apr. 20, 2012):

Kentucky, Indiana announce federal approval of Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement for Ohio River Bridges Project
Implements cost-saving measures, new Record of Decision expected mid-June

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 20, 2012) – The Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project, designed to bring unprecedented improvements in cross-river mobility for the entire region, took a giant step forward today with federal approval of a new environmental impact statement.

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet seeks to intervene
Suit by River Fields, National Trust poses danger of delay, higher cost

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 11, 2011) – To help ensure the Ohio River Bridges Project moves forward, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet today filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit by River Fields and the National Trust for Historic Preservation against the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

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During a recent visit to Louisvlle, Gov. Steve Beshear updated the status of a number of road projects in the area. These include:

• The construction of an interchange between KY 1447 Westport Road and I-264 Watterson Expressway.
• Widening of I-64 from I-265 Gene Snyder Freeway to Exit 28 in Shelby County.
• Median cable barrier installation along I-65.
• Reconstruction of a ramp at the interchange between I-64 and I-264 Shawnee Expressway west of downtown.
• Pavement repairs along various stretches of interstate.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Beshear recaps road projects in Louisville area; $200M in work started or planned (Sept. 18, 2009) 

Construction work has begun on the Louisville east end bridge project. This phase of work involves the reconstruction of the current end of the Gene Snyder Freeway at US 42: Busines First of Louisville: Bridges project to begin construction activity (March 2, 2006) , Courier-Journal: Relief on way for U.S. 42-Snyder intersection; Open house to let public examine project (April 26, 2006) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Ground broken for two costly Ohio River bridges (June 20, 2006) , Courier-Journal: Dynamite work to start at U.S. 42 and Snyder (July 19, 2006) 

On Sunday, a small plane landed safely on the Snyder Freeway after running out of fuel: Courier-Journal: Plane makes emergency landing on Snyder Freeway (Feb. 27, 2006) 

Kentucky and Indiana will allow subcontractors working on projects related to the proposed Eastern Jefferson County Ohio River bridge to handle right of way acquisition instead of having one contractor handle all of the property purchases: Courier-Journal: New plan to buy land for bridges assailed; States say change is more efficient (April 8, 2005) 

In other bridge news, another protest group has popped up to claim the two proposed bridges at Louisville are unneeded: (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Evening News: Bridges not needed, group contends (April 8, 2005) 

A WAVE 3 reporter describes his look at a 3D model of the proposed bridges: WAVE 3 TV: Downtown Bridges Will Eliminate Spaghetti Junction (April 20, 2005) 

The Courier-Journal profiles Ed Cox, who is the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Project Manager for the bridges project: Courier-Journal: Engineer is at the helm of bridge project; He's no stranger to improving traffic (April 25, 2005) 

The Louisville Courier-Journal gathered reactions to a study that involved the use of balloons to mark the proposed path and height of the approaches to the proposed Eastern Jefferson County Ohio River Bridge: Courier-Journal: Balloon experiment marks path of planned bridge (March 10, 2005) 

In related news, Clark County, Indiana recently hired a consultant to help plan for development once the new east end bridge is open: The New Albany (Ind.) Evening News: County prepares for impact of east end bridge (March 11, 2005) 

Louisville’s WAVE 3 gathers area-resident’s reactions to the balloons marking the path of the proposed east end bridge: WAVE 3: Prospect Residents Get Bridge Preview (March 9, 2005) 

On March 8th and 9th, engineers designing the new East End Bridge over the Ohio River in Jefferson County will use balloons to mark the approximate location and height of the approach to the proposed approach to the bridge: Business First: Balloons will simulate East End bridge approach (Feb. 28, 2005) 

March 9, 2005 Update: More information: Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: Engineers will use balloons to show bridge approach elevation (March 6, 2005) 

Louisville Metro officials are planning a new road that would parallel the Gene Snyder Freeway between Seatonville Road and Shelbyville Road. The road would be built to the west of the freeway. Though a timetable for actual construction has not been set at this time, planners are hoping to develop a plan so that right-of-way can be purchased before the corridor becomes heavily developed.

More information: Courier-Journal: Road to run parallel to Snyder Freeway in the planning stage (June 25, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has awarded two contracts for design engineering on two segments of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project. Qk4, Inc. has been awarded a project to redesign the Spaghetti Junction interchange in downtown, and H.W. Lochner, Inc. has been awarded a project to design the extension of the Gene Snyder Freeway from I-71 to the new Ohio River bridge: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Two Kentucky Companies Named As Engineering and Design Consultants for Ohio River Bridges Project (June 17, 2004) , Business First: Consultants picked for Ohio River Bridges Project (June 14, 2004) 

Additionally, Kentucky and Indiana are soliciting for bids for a contract to design the bridges: Courier-Journal: State to seek bids on designs for new bridges (June 18, 2004) 

In addition to the two proposed new bridges in eastern Jefferson County, Louisville Metro Councilman Doug Hawkins is pushing for the construction of a bridge over the Ohio River in the western part of the county. The bridge would be two-lanes and would connect the Gene Snyder Freeway with either Cane Run Road or Indiana 111.

The environment impact study for the two proposed interstate bridges included a southwest bridge option; however, it concluded that traffic usage would not be high. A southwestern bridge would likely carry 14,000 cars per day compared to 68,000 for the easternmost proposed interstate bridge.

More information: Courier-Journal: Southwest Jefferson bridge proposed (Jan. 17, 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.

The Courier-Journal reports on a number current and upcoming road projects in their August 23 edition. Among these projects are:

• I-264 - A two-year project to reconstruct the western leg of I-264 between I-64 and Dixie Highway. This section of I-264 is known as the Shawnee Expressway. The 7.6-mile $60 million project will include adding two lanes near I-64. Work will begin in the spring.
• Hurstbourne Parkway (KY 1747) - A project begin in July to extend Hurstbourne Parkway from Bardstown Road to Fern Valley Road.
• Westport Road (KY 1447) - Westport Road will be widened to 5 lanes from Hubbards Lane to Hurstbourne Parkway. A new interchange will be constructed at I-264.
• National Turnpike (KY 1020) - Widen to five lanes from Southside Drive to Outer Loop.
• New Cut Road (KY 1865) - Widen to five lanes from Third Street Road to Outer Loop.
• Jefferson Boulevard - Construct a four lane extension from McCawley Road north to Poplar Level Road.
• Gene Snyder Freeway (KY 841/I-265) - Resurface three miles near Bardstown Road.

More information: Courier-Journal: ROAD WORK AHEAD: Watch for headaches (Aug. 23, 2002) 

According to this Courier-Journal article  the 2.2 mile section of the Gene Snyder Freeway (KY 841 at this point) between I-71 and US 42 will be closed for two weeks while the deck of an over pass is replaced.