June 2004

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) 

Some alterations have been made to the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency’s Transportation Improvement Plans. The changes reflect changes relating to the funding of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project: The (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Evening News: Transportation plan is updated for Bridges project (June 28, 2004) 

The Commonwealth Journal reports on the status of plans to bypass Somerset. A southeast bypass has been complete for several years, and now plans are set for southwest and northern bypasses. The northern bypass will be part of I-66.

More information: Somerset Commonwealth Journal: Bypass Corridors Set (June 29, 2004) 

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey recently told the Ashland Rotary Club that he wants new road projects to encourage economic development: Ashland Daily Independent: Road projects tied to economic development (June 29, 2004) 

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports that this summer the city of Owensboro will be undertaking a number of projects to improve its streets and sidewalks: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: City gets rolling on street projects (June 28, 2004) 

The new Glasgow Outer Loop will be mostly complete by the fall. The new highway will connect KY 90 west of Glasgow to US 68/KY 80 east of the city.

The only remaining uncompleted sections of the highway are two connections to the Cumberland Parkway. There is currently no funding to begin construction on these sections.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Main sections of Glasgow’s outer loop to open by winter (June 27, 2004) 

A black bear was recently struck by a car in Boone County in Northern Kentucky. The bear was not found; however, hair found after the accident was tested and determined to be from a black bear: Cincinnati Enquirer: Test confirms car hit black bear in N.Ky. (June 26, 2004) 

WYMT Mountain News reports on security around the Cumberland Gap Tunnel: WYMT Mountain News: Homeland Security Officials Look For Potential Terrorist Targets (June 25, 2004) 

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) 

County and state officials are working together to determine where to place guide signs to direct visitors to Pike County attractions. The large brown signs will be installed along streets and highways throughout the county.

More information: Pikeville Appalachian News-Express: Highway guide signs coming for Pike (June 29, 2004) 

Repaving of the Henderson Bypass (at the northern end of the Pennyrile Parkway) has been causing traffic backups through the city. In the coming weeks, the project will see the removal of one of the overpasses at the interchange with US 60. The overpass is being removed so that it can be replaced with a new structure.

More information: The Henderson Gleaner: Cloverleaf bridge removal planned for July 9-12 (June 25, 2004) , The Henderson Gleaner: Paving brings bypass traffic to standstill (June 25, 2004) 

Mike Goins has been appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Transportation Cabinet. Goins, a native of Cumberland, has previously worked for the Ashland Alliance and in television news for WSAZ-TV in Huntington, WV and WYMT-TV in Hazard.

More information: Office of Gov. Fletcher: Office of the Governor Announces Transportation Cabinet Executive Director of the Office of Public Affairs (June 24, 2004) 

The Turkeyfoot Road (KY 1303) widening project in Kenton County is on track for completion in 2007: Cincinnati Enquirer: Turkeyfoot Road project appears on solid footing (June 24, 2004) 

While several Henderson County road projects are facing delays, transportation officials report that the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Evansville-Henderson section of I-69 should be complete late this year.

Start of the US 60 widening project in southeast Henderson will likely be delayed until 2006 due to slow right-of-way acquisition.

Several miles of the Pennyrile Parkway are due to be repaved once money becomes available, and the twin US 41 bridges over the Ohio River are scheduled to be repainted in 2005 and 2006.

More information: The Henderson Gleaner: U.S. 60-West widening could be pushed back (June 24, 2004) 

By the end of the next years motorists in Elliott County should be able to cross the Little Sandy River on a new bridge. The bridge along KY 7—which will replace a narrow steel truss span—is part of an ongoing project to improve the road through the area. Construction of the bridge itself will cost $12.9 million.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New bridge part of $12.9 million Ky. 7 development (June 23, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet recently showed off its news “war room” to the media. The room in the cabinet’s new Frankfort offices allow officials to monitor road conditions around the state—including live video from Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel: Courier-Journal: High-tech operations center will aid emergency response (June 22, 2004) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Transportation base gets high-tech upgrade (June 22, 2004) 

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Clay Bailey says the cabinet is turning around after several scandals over the past few years: Courier-Journal: Agency turning around, transportation chief says (June 21, 2004) , Associated Press: AP Interview: New Transportation secretary relies on military background in new job (June 21, 2004) 

Local business owners along US 42 in Union are worried about the impact a new US 42 bypass: Kentucky Post: With a new U.S. 42 coming, shops on the old road worry (June 19, 2004) 

Evans "E-V" Hilton, an engineer who contributed to many of the state’s highways projects, has died at the age of 85. Hilton worked for the Transportation Cabinet for forty-one years under eleven governors. He played a role in the design of many of the states interstates, parkways, and other major roads.

More information: WKYT: Engineer Of Major State Roads Dies (June 16, 2004) 

Work to widen US 27 north of Somerset will address safety problems at the intersection of KY 70 and US 27 in Eubank: WYMT Mountain News: Road Intersection Needs Improvements (June 16, 2004) 

The US 27 widening project will include an interchange at the future I-66.

The Daniel Carter Beard Bridge on I-471 (known by locals as the “Big Mac” bridge) is receiving a fresh coat of paint, and the work is delaying traffic: Kentucky Post: Bridge painting causes delays (June 14, 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) 

Louisville has plans to extend River Road along the Ohio River to the west of its current terminus in downtown: Courier-Journal: River Road extension proposed (June 15, 2004) 

Work on US 41 Alternate in Oak Grove continues this summer. The highway is being widened to five lanes through the town: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Oak Grove highway construction continues (June 12, 2004) 

The Ashland Daily Independent reports that right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation work will soon begin for the I-64/KY 180 interchange reconstruction project. Tentative plans are for construction to start next year and finish in 2007: Ashland Daily Independent: Changes in store for interchange (June 11, 2004) 

CSX’s plans to change the traffic flow at rail crossing in downtown LaGrange has brought criticism from local residents and business owners: Courier-Journal: LaGrange rail plan encounters opposition (June 11, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will soon seek bids for a preliminary environmental study concerning the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: State to seek bridge study (June 10, 2004) 

In other news, due to lack of funding, the Brent Spence Bridge replacement project was not included in the Cincinnati-area long range transportation plan: Cincinnati Enquirer: Long-range transit plan passes, minus 2 biggies (June 11, 2004) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that—along with other interstate widening projects—the I-75 widening project in Scott and Grant Counties has been delayed by the legislature’s failure to pass a budget: Cincinnati Enquirer: New lanes for I-75 on hold (June 10, 2004) 

Work to reconstruct a curvy section of US 62 known as “Dump Hill” is planned to begin early next year: (Bardstown) Kentucky Standard: State purchases land for Dump Hill project (June 9, 2004) 

Team Taylor County executive director Kevin Sheilley recently reported at a meeting of the Campbellsville/Taylor County Industrial Development Authority that he believes planning for the Heartland Parkway is still on track: (Campbellsville) Central Kentucky News Journal: FOL building may be demolished (June 6, 2004) 

Property acquisition for the reconstruction of the I-64/KY 1958 interchange in Winchester is likely to begin soon: Winchester Sun: Work on I-64 facing delays (June 7, 2004) 

That state has awarded a contract to paint the Kennedy Bridge. The winning contract was awarded to Atlantic Painting Co. of Oak Lawn, Ill. That company submitted the low bid at $17,777,777. Work is planned to begin by August, and the deadline for project completion is July 31, 2006. This project will be the largest project ever undertaken by Atlantic Painting.

Painting of the bridge was suspended in 2001 after contractors disclosed a state bridge inspector had been asking for bribes.

More information: Courier-Journal: Contract to be awarded to paint Kennedy Bridge (June 5, 2004) , Associated Press: State Ready to Try to Paint Bridge Again, Two Years After Scandal (June 5, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: State ready to try to paint bridge again (June 6, 2004) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Bridge of Scandal to Get Paint at Last (June 6, 2004) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Painting Contract Awarded for Louisville's Kennedy Bridge (June 17, 2004) , Associated Press: Kentucky awards $17.8 million contract to repaint Ohio River bridge (June 17, 2004) , Courier-Journal: Kennedy Bridge painting due soon (June 18, 2004) 

Heavy rains in June washed out several roads in far eastern Kentucky. Damage was so severe the Transportation Cabinet Highway District 12 was forces to halt all routine highway maintenance and refocus on emergency road repairs. Preliminary estimates are that repairs will cost $6 million.

The rain and floods also damaged roads in Clark County.

Additionally, the rains are believed to have contributed to the partial collapse of KY 292, the Huntley-Brinkley Road, along the Tug Fork in Pike County. The road was constructed by local residents nearly 40 years ago. After the area was featured on the NBC evening news with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, television viewers nationwide sent donations to aid in the construction of the road. Local residents believe heavy coal trucks contributed to the collapse of the road.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Highway District 12: District 12 surveys flood damage with FEMA reps (June 6, 2004) , Winchester Sun: Clark County included in request for disaster relief (June 8, 2004) , Lexington Herald-Leader: It's good night to section of Huntley-Brinkley Road (June 15, 2004) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Cause of eastern Kentucky road's deterioration debated (June 15, 2004) 

State transportation funds are being used for an anti-litter ad campaign in the Louisville area: Courier-Journal: Anti-trash Push Starts (June 4, 2004) 

The funding was approved during the 2002 Regular Session of the state legislature.

Martin T. Whitmer Jr., deputy chief of staff to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, has acknowledged the need for a replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge; however, he reiterated President Bush’s commitment to holding the line on transportation spending: Cincinnati Enquirer: Need for new I-75 span acknowledged (June 6, 2004) , Cincinnati Post: Feds Backing Bridge Project (June 6, 2004) 

US 68 and KY 80 played host a 400 mile long yard sale the first weekend of June: Bowling Green Daily News: 400-mile yard sale kicks off on 68-80 (June 3, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: The 400-mile sale (June 4, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Buyers crossing nation for statewide sale (June 5, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Festival gives Smiths Grove chance to relax, sell goods (June 6, 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) 

Popular sentiment is that the new Campbellsville Bypass is dangerous; however, statistics show that the road is no more dangerous than other roads in the area: Central Kentucky News-Journal: Wrecks on bypass no more than at other intersections (June 2, 2004) 

Work to convert the interchange at the former location of a toll both on the Blue Grass Parkway at US 127 into a standard diamond interchange is planned to be completed this fall: The Anderson News: Construction workers to make exit this fall (June 2, 2004) 

U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers announced this month that the U.S. Department of Transportation is releasing $994,100 to fund improvements to Kentucky’s three scenic byways: WKYT: Funding Released For Kentucky's Scenic Byways (June 2, 2004) , (Huntington, WV) Herald-Dispatch: Travelin’ Music (June 13, 2004) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County is under contract to be renovated; however, the renovations will not begin until public meetings can be held to discuss the project. These meetings are not likely to be held for another two months.

The bridge has been the focus of attention since plans to remove the bridge for renovation were met with anger from local residents at a public meeting in 2003. The transportation cabinet has since asked the project contractor to revise their plans so the bridge can be repaired onsite. Outrage over the plans to remove the bridge led to the enactment of new legislation governing how the state’s covered bridges are to be managed.

Historically, the area around the bridge has been home to the Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival; however, this year the festival has been forced to move because an agreement to use the land near the bridge could not be secured.

More information: (Maysville) Ledger Independent: Limelight Once Again Focuses on Goddard Bridge (June 2, 2004) 

Part of the preliminary work on a project to extend KY 880 from its current terminus at KY 185 to 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue will include an archeological survey of the area. Among other things, transportation cabinet archeologists will examine abandoned outhouses.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Black History Focus of Downtown Survey (June 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) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed Barry Sanders to serve as chief district engineer for the Transportation Cabinet’s District 5 which is based in Louisville.

More information: KYTC: Governor Ernie Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Clay Bailey Appoint Chief District Engineer for Highway District 5 in Louisville (June 1, 2004) , Business First: State Names Head of Louisville-area Transportation Operation (June 1, 2004) 

The US 68 Yard Sale is underway today through Sunday in the 24 counties along the path of US 68 in Kentucky: more information .

A festival this weekend marked the 150th anniversary of Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge. The bridge is located off of KY 7 in Greenup County. The festivities were marred by vandals who spray painted the interior of the bridge and a landslide that closed part of KY 7: Ashland Daily Independent: Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge celebrates 150th anniversary (May 31, 2004) 

A report from the Transportation Cabinet Inspector General reveals that forty-give cabinet computers were used to view pornography. The investigation lead to the firing of two employees, twenty-one resignations or retirements, and twenty-three disciplinary actions.

More information: Courier-Journal: Report documents porn viewed by state workers (May 29, 2004) , Associated Press: Probe finds 45 state computers that were used to view porn (May 29, 2004) 

Bowling Green’s Greenways Commission is working on plans for the second phase of the city’s greenways project: Bowling Green Daily News: Greenways: City planners look with hope toward future (May 29, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News (Editorial): Greenways is good venture for our city (May 29, 2004) 

Two sections of US 431 in Muhlenberg County will be repaved: Messenger-Inquirer: Two sections of U.S. 431 in Muhlenberg to be resurfaced (May 29, 2004) 

A memorial service was held last week to honor the 931 persons who died in Kentucky traffic accidents in 2003. Monuments have been erected to accident victims at all of Kentucky’s interstate welcome centers, the rest area at Slade, and at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet headquarters in Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Ceremony Honors Victims of Traffic Accidents (May 28, 2004) 

The Elliott County Chamber of Commerce held a public meeting last week to discuss plans to widen KY 32/KY 7 through Sandy Hook. The chamber is concerned that the plans will impact parking at existing businesses along the route.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Chamber Sets Road Project Meeting (May 27, 2004) 

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville) says that funding for a study on how to replace or rehabilitate the Brent Spence Bridge is caught up in in-fighting over the federal transportation spending bill. The bill is currently in conference where conflicts between the House and Senate versions are resolved. In addition to resolving the differences between the bills, congress must also attempt to find a bill that pleases the president who has said he will veto any bill costing more than $256 billion.

Additionally, the governors of Kentucky and Ohio recently met. Both pledged support for the bridge replacement.

More information: Cincinnati Post: Governors promote region (May 27, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Leaders pledge to work together (May 27, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge funding gets tangled (May 28, 2004) , Associated Press: Senator says funding for northern Kentucky bridge uncertain (May 28, 2004) , Kentucky Post: 'Family fight' hurting Brent Spence effort (May 28, 2004) , Associated Press: Covington bridge project slowed by rift over budget (May 29, 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]