March 2005

The southbound lanes of I-75 in Tennessee between exits 160 and 134 are expected to remain closed until Friday, March 11. Weather has delayed the completion of cross over lanes that will allow southbound traffic to bypass a collapsed section of southbound lanes.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has provided a list of several possible detours: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Interstate 75 southbound will remain closed until Friday, March 11 (March 8, 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) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that the new U.S. Grant Bridge over the Ohio River at Portsmouth, Ohio should be open to traffic in late-2006. The new cable-stayed bridge for US 23 was originally to be opened in 2004.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: ODOT: Grant bridge back on track (March 9, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has recommended that the proposed “Heartland Parkway” between Columbia and Springfield be constructed by widening KY 55, US 68, and KY 555 to four lanes along their existing route.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: Heartland Parkway could be a little closer (March 6, 2005) 

Work will begin Thursday to repair the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County. Originally, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had planned to allow a contractor to remove the bridge and repair it offsite; however, local residents protested and the state agreed to require that all restoration work be performed onsite.

The bridge is believed to have been constructed in the 1820s, and was last restored in 1968.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Goddard Bridge renovation to begin March 10 (March 5, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently held a meeting in Greenup to discuss options for the replacement of an aging bridge at the city’s west end. The bridge which was constructed in 1884 and has been closed to traffic—due to structural decay—since at least 2003. Three options for replacing the bridge were presented:

1. No build. Routine maintenance would continue to be performed on the routes which remain open. $0.
2. Main Street Bridge Replacement. The bridge on KY 2541 would be replaced. $2 million.
3. Washington Street Reconstruction. Main Street (KY 2) would be rebuilt. $1.4 million.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Meeting set to discuss bridge replacement (March 5, 2005) , Ashland Daily Independent: Residents voice opinions about 121-year-old Greenup County bridge (March 8, 2005) 

A recent study by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet identifies several alternatives for the proposed I-66 in Warren County and a new Bowling Green beltline route.

[Read Full Text]

The city of Middlesboro will now use street signs that feature black lettering on a yellow background: Middlesboro Daily News: New design for city signs (March 2, 2005) 

Construction should begin this summer to realign 14th Street in Bowling Green near Western Kentucky University. After the project is complete Center Street will end at 14th Street. The realignment is intended to improve traffic flow around WKU’s campus.

Plans for a new Southwest Corridor between Russellville Road (US 68/KY 80) and Nashville Road (US 31W) are complete, and the city will purchase right of way for the new four lane connector route beginning this year. The city of Bowling Green expects money to fund the $10.9 construction project to come form the state’s budget.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: LifeSkills site dispute ends (March 3, 2005) 

Rolling road blocks were in place along I-65 between mile point 36 and mile point 43 this morning for utility work by Warren Rural Electric.

[Read Full Text]

A project to repaint the Shawneetown Bridge will cause traffic delays beginning on Friday and continuing through next week: Henderson Gleaner: Shawneetown Bridge delays coming (March 2, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has received a $3.1 million grant to fund various public transit projects in rural Kentucky counties: Lexington Herald-Leader: Transportation Cabinet gets $3.1 million (March 2, 2005) 

A portion of I-75 in Tennessee near the Kentucky state line has been closed due to a rock slide. It is unknown how long the closure will last: WKYT: Portion Of I-75 South Closed (March 1, 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) 

Now that the legal battle over the Big Four Bridge appears to be over, the city of Jeffersonville in Indiana has restarted a project to determine what to do with the Indiana side of the bridge. The city of Louisville plans to connect the abandoned railroad bridge to its Waterfront Park and turn the bridge into a pedestrian walkway across the Ohio River: Jeffersonville, Ind. Evening News: Jeff considers options for Big Four Bridge connection (Feb. 28, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 3 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm at Hughes-Kirk Elementary School to discuss proposed changes to the so-called “Dead Man’s Curve” south of Belton.

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Meeting to cover deadly curve's future (Feb. 28, 2005) 

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer takes a look at unique county road names; names like Muddy Gut Road, Rattlesnake Hill Road, and Possum Trot Road: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Name Game; Tywhoppity? Muddy Gut Road? What's in a name? (Feb. 27, 2005)