August 2004

A project to repaint the Shawneetown Bridge will result in lane closures lasting through most of next year: The Henderson Gleaner: Shawneetown Bridge to be painted, causing long-term lane closures (Aug. 17, 2004) 

A meeting presenting a number of proposals for the Heartland Parkway brought a variety of responses: Central Kentucky News Journal: Opinions vary about Heartland Parkway options (Aug. 15, 2004) 

Jessamine County officials have resurrected plans for a route to connect Nicholasville to I-75: Kentucky Herald-Leader: Jessamine planners revive I-75 connector (Aug. 8, 2004) 

Under the terms of a little publicized agreement signed shortly before the bridge’s 1963 opening, Indiana is entitled to pay for half the costs of repainting the I-65 Kennedy Bridge over the Ohio River. Indiana has reimbursed $4 million for costs incurred so far: Courier-Journal: Indiana to split cost of painting I-65 span (July 30, 2004) 

In late July, someone posted signs at the Slade rest area claiming that the Mountain Parkway’s only rest area would be closed. The signs suggested that motorists call Frankfort to stop the closing; however, the state has no plans to close the rest area. Though, the state is looking for someone else to take on the financial responsibility of running the facility: Lexington Herald-Leader: Mountain Parkway rest area to stay open (July 29, 2004) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Try this slogan: Don't mess with our rest area (July 30, 2004) 

At a July meeting, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet presented a number of ideas for improving traffic flow in and around Bowling Green. The plans include widening portions of I-65, Scottsville Road, and Nashville Road and the construction of new highway corridors that would provided access to the Natcher Parkway and I-65: Bowling Green Daily News: Public gets look at big picture for traffic flow (July 27, 2004) 

In other Warren County news, archaeologists are conducting a study of areas along a planned extension of Veterans Memorial Way into downtown: Bowling Green Daily News: Archaeologists digging through trash to find Bowling Green history (July 27, 2004) 

Kentucky and Indiana have begun soliciting bids for design work related to the two proposed bridges over the Ohio River at Louisville: Business First of Louisville: States seek design for Ohio River Bridges (July 14, 2004) , Courier-Journal: Bridge designs sought (July 15, 2004) 

The State of Indiana has already awarded contracts for the design and engineering of the Indiana bridge approaches: Business First of Louisville: Indiana names contractors for its portion of bridges project (July 26, 2004) 

Construction has begun a new route connecting the new exit 55 interchange on I-71 to the Markland Dam Bridge over the Ohio River has begun. The $17 million five mile project is expected to be complete in Spring 2006: Cincinnati Enquirer: Speedway road work to begin (July 14, 2004) 

Kentucky’s “Mr. Smiley” license plate, which has been the object of much derision since its introduction last year, has received the 2003 Best License Plate Award from the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.

More information: Courier-Journal: Kentucky's controversial tag is rated best in nation (July 14, 2004) , WVIT: License Plate Club Brakes For Bluegrass State (July 14, 2004) 

• U.S. Transportation Department assistant secretary Emil Frankel refused to promise more money to replace the Brent Spence Bridge after a tour of the structure in July: Cincinnati Enquirer: Federal official unswayed on need for more bridge money (July 13, 2004) 
• The next goal for Cincinnati-area officials transportation officials planning to replace the bridge is to raise $19 million in federal funding: Cincinnati Post: New Brent bridge goal: $19 million (July 13, 2004) 
• Ohio may lead the impact study phase of the bridge replacement project; however, Kentucky owns the Brent Spence Bridge and would be ultimately responsible for the project: Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio may do Brent Spence impact study (July 15, 2004) 
• A compromise in the federal budge includes reduced funding for Brent Spence study: Cincinnati Post: Officials wait for word on bridge project (July 23, 2004) 

• 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) 

A federally backed project to move the Floyd County town of Martin from its flood prone location to an area above the flood plain began in July. The $97-million federally funded project is expected to last eight years.

More information: WKYT: Massive Town Relocation Project Underway (July 11, 2004) 

Traffic shifts caused by new commercial developments and the closing of a Fruit of the Loom plant in Campbellsville have caused congestion at the intersection of KY 210 and US 68: Central Kentucky News-Journal: KY 210 traffic becoming a problem (July 11, 2004)