December 2002

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be holding the following public meetings in the near future:

• Jan. 23 - Campbell County: Extension of KY 536 from US 27 to the AA Highway 
• Feb. 6 - Morgan County: Realingment of US 460 at Greasy Hill 
• Feb. 13 - Lee County: Realignment and Reconstruction of KY 52 

Recent Professional Services Procurement Bulletins  include a study on rebuilding the interchanges on I-65  near the University of Louisville, a study on rebuilding KY 9 in urban Campbell County , and studies about constructing two new interchanges on the Mountain Parkway .

Several Warren County roads will be repaced in 2003. These include Hammett Hill Road, Benleo Road, Fairview Boiling Springs Road, and Old Scottsville Road.

More information: Daily News: $1.157 million in state money expected for road work in Warren (Dec. 16, 2002) 

The Brent Spence Bridge which carries I-71 and I-75 over the Ohio River is projected to only have about 15 more years of useful life. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is beginning a 30 month study to determine how to extend the life of the bridge or how to best replace it.

More information: Enquirer: Obsolete and over capacity, Brent Spence Bridge is nearly out of time (Dec. 27, 2002) 

The Messenger-Inquirer reports that road projects for Daviess County in 2003 include diamond grinding the western portion of the US 60 By-pass, rehabilitation of the northbound lanes of the Natcher Parkway near the northern terminus, and bridge replacements on KY 661 and US 431.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: Road and bridge projects lined up for 2003 (Dec. 30, 2002) 

Work on the Owensboro approach to the Glover Cary Bridge should be mostly complete in a few weeks. J.R. Miller Boulevard is being realigned so that aligns with the bridge. Landscaping and final paving should be complete this spring.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: Cary bridge work nears end (Dec. 28, 2002) 

The plan to build an extension of the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway was voted as one of the Christian County's top ten news stories in 2002.

More information: New Era: 2002: Year in review (Dec. 28, 2002) 

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted preliminary information concerning public meetings  about I-66 in Warren County and Edmonson County.

The KYTC Division of Planning has released their final report  concerning a study about possible improvements to the western end of the AA Highway.

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted information a planning study  concerning extending KY 645 from US 23 near Ulysses to I-64

The KYTC Division of Planning has released the final report  of the scoping study concerning the reconstruction of KY 61 from Columbia to Greensburg.

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted information concerning a scoping study  to determine a route for a connector route between US 150 and I-75 in Lincoln and Rockcastle Counties.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has released the final report  of a scoping study concerning the construction of an access road to the Daniel Boone Parkway in Clay and Leslie Counties.

The new interchange between KY 234 (Cemetery Road) and I-65 in Bowling Green has opened. The interchange is just south of the Barren River and will be numbered as Exit 26.

More information: Daily News: Cemetery/I-65 link complete (Dec. 19, 2002) , Daily News: Cemetery/I-65 link nearly finished (Dec. 13, 2002) 

The design of Kentucky's new license plate has been revealed. The new plates will begin being distributed in January. By state law, Kentucky releases new license plates every five years.

More information: KYTC Press Release , Governor Unveils New Kentucky License Plate 

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The entire length of I-64 in Kentucky has been designated the Purple Heart Trail. The Military Order of Purple Heart has undertaken an effort to have each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico designate one of their highways to honor recipients of the Purple Heart. Kentucky will erect 24 signs designating the Purple Heart Trail: one at each of I-64's entrances to the state and signs in each county along I-64.

More information: KYTC Press Release 

From http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/News/ewartw.johnson.htm :

LEXINGTON, KY - (December 16, 2002) - Friends and family joined state and local officials in a dedication ceremony today to honor Ewart W. Johnson of Winchester, Kentucky. The Boonesboro Bridge on KY 627 was renamed the Ewart W. Johnson Bridge in appreciation of his service to Madison and Clark Counties and to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Johnson served as the Kentucky State Parks Commissioner from 1971 - 1975, and was instrumental in the construction of KY 627 from Winchester to Boonesboro. Secretary of Transportation James C. Codell, III said, “Ewart Johnson had a vision to provide the citizens of Winchester and Boonesboro with a safer roadway. Tragically, seven people had died in seventeen months on the current road. He wanted a new road built between Winchester and Boonesboro because he wanted to save lives.”

His accomplishments as Commissioner of Parks include the construction of Fort Boonesborough at Fort Boonesborough State Park. The beginning development of what is now the Kentucky Horse Park, and the completion of an 18-hole golf course at Lake Barkley State Resort Park where he hosted the first Boots Randolph Invitational Golf Tournament. This golf tournament has since become an annual event.

Secretary of Tourism and Acting Commissioner of Parks, Ann R. Latta praised Johnson’s commitment. “Through his leadership, countless thousands of visitors have learned more about Kentucky’s history and have enjoyed a wide variety of recreational opportunities.”

The new William H. Natcher Bridge over the Ohio River near Owensboro has been named as one of the Top 10 Bridges by Roads and Bridges Magazine.

More information: KYTC Press Release 

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has named Kentucky's parkway system and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel as Kentucky's top road project. They also recognized Wendell Ford and Calvin Grayson as the state's top transportation officials.

More information: KYTC Press Release 

The Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project has been selected to receive accelerated environmental review.

More information: KYTC Press Release