April 2005

Ground was broken Wednesday on the next phase of the Western Kentucky KY 80 widening project. Gov. Ernie Fletcher and other officials broke ground for a section of the highway between the KY 121 Bypass in Mayfield and KY 1124: Murray Ledger & Times: Ground broken for Mayfield end of Ky. 80 road project (April 28, 2005) 

Right-of-way purchase is expected to begin this fall for a project to reconstruct KY 163 in Monroe and Metcalfe County: Glasgow Daily Times: Improvements planned for highway 163 (April 23, 2005) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have awarded the engineering firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff an $18 million contract to perform a study on how to best replace the Brent Spence Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: Engineering firm gets $18M to design new Brent Spence (April 22, 2005) 

A group of residents is urging that any replacement bridge be constructed as a signature piece for the area: Cincinnati Post: Signature bridge urged (April 22, 2005) 

A project to widen Bashford Manor Lane is planned to begin this summer: Courier-Journal: Bashford Manor Lane widening project will start this summer (April 21, 2005) 

Part of the Kennedy Bridge is being sandblasted in preparation for repainting: Courier-Journal: Sandblasting preps bridge; Kennedy span soon will get its long-awaited paint job (April 21, 2005) 

A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state’s roads a "D" rating: Bowling Green Daily News: Roads in our state are in dire need of help (April 20, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has created a website with information about lane closures and construction on Interstate 75 near the Tennessee border: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: I-75 Traffic Updates 

A seal failure at a abandoned coal mine in Knott County resulted in a mudslide over a section of KY 80: Associated Press: Mine blowout closes major highway in eastern Kentucky (April 18, 2005) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Closed road expected to reopen today; Ky. 80 In Knott Had Been Covered By Mud (April 20, 2005) 

Chunks of concrete have been found to be falling from Paducah’s Puryear Bridge. The bridge opened in 1997.

More information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: Chunks of Concrete Falling From Paducah's Puryear Bridge (April 9, 2005) , WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: Puryear Bridge Crumbling, Inspectors Called In –VIDEO (April 11, 2005) , WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: Inspectors Need One More Day (April 11, 2005) 

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) 

A project to reconstruct and widen a bridge in Huntington will slow traffic traveling into West Virginia: Huntingon (W.V.) Herald-Dispatch: Motorists can expect delays as I-64 bridge project begins (April 7, 2005) 

A project to extend Seventh Street has begun in Bowling Green. The project will tie together US 68/KY 80, KY 185, KY 234, and KY 880 and will include the construction of a new underpass under the CSX railroad.

The reporter for the Daily News refers the project as part of a four lane loop; however, KY 880 is far from a four lane loop. The road is two lanes from KY 234 to US 231 east of downtown and from US 68/KY 80 to KY 1435 southwest of downtown.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Four-lane loop stays on track (April 6, 2005) 

New welcome signs have been installed on interstates across the state. The Cincinnati Enquirer has a photograph of sign installation on the Combs-Hehl Bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: New welcome signs going up; Crews install them at 11 expressway gateways (April 6, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has hired a ferry that will carry farm equipment across the Ohio River near the Shawneetown Bridge. Traffic on the bridge is currently restricted due to a repainting project, and an analysis found that it would cost less to temporarily operate a ferry than to periodically clear equipment from the bridge to allow oversized farm equipment to pass.

More information: Evansville (Ind.) Courier-Press: Shawneetown Bridge ferry planned (April 6, 2005) , The Henderson Gleaner: State to ferry farmers at Shawneetown (April 6, 2005) , The Henderson Gleaner: Shawneetown ferry getting into place (April 12, 2005) , The Henderson Gleaner: Shawneetown Ferry starts up (April 13, 2005) , Union County Advocate: Ferry will be used to bypass Shawneetown Bridge painting (April 13, 2005) , Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press: Farmers take ferry to get to fields (April 13, 2005) , Union County Advocate: Temporary Shawneetown Ferry Floating On a Rich Regional History (April 27, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently held a pair of public meetings to discuss the proposed widening of US 60 from the Henderson Bypass to the Morganfield Bypass. This widening project is undergoing a second environmental impact study after a Corydon resident convinced the Federal Highway Administration that the state had failed to properly consider alternate routes.

More information: The Henderson Gleaner: U.S. 60-W widening meetings set (April 6, 2005) , The Henderson Gleaner: U.S. 60 public meetings scheduled this week (April 24, 2005) , Evansville Courier-Press: U.S. 60 widening research begins again (April 27, 2005) 

WAVE 3 TV reports that the Westport Road widening project remains on schedule: WAVE 3: Westport Widening Project Still On Track Despite Storm Delays (April 4, 2005) 

At a recent citizens advisory board meeting, a route that would widen KY 32 between Sandy Hook and Morehead was chosen as the preferred alternative for a proposed extension of KY 645 from US 23 to I-64.

More information: Morehead News: Proposed KY 645 widens KY 32 east; adds interchange at Rodburn area (April 1, 2005) , Ashland Daily Independent: Ky. 645 debates continue (April 3, 2005) 

Local, state, and federal officials will gather in Letcher County on April 22 to celebrate improvements to US 119’s crossing of Pine Mountain. The improvements include the widening of shoulders and the addition of passing lanes on the climb up the mountain.

The day’s events will include exhibits at the Pine Mountain Grill and a 11:00am ceremony at the new overlook on US 119.

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Work has begun to appraise parcels of land that lie in the path of the US 641 widening project between Marion and Eddyville: The Crittenden Press: U.S. 641 appraisals are under way (March 31, 2005) 

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating the use of change orders on highway projects in Kentucky. Change orders are used in the event that a contractor finds their expenses exceed the amount they originally bid for a project. Change orders are a necessary part of highway construction, but their use might also leave the state open to bid rigging and fraud.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Ky. cabinet under U.S. scrutiny; Change orders at hub of transportation inquiry (April 1, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Transportation Cabinet ignored rules, audit says; Change orders for road work involved (March 31, 2005) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet:

State and local officials broke ground at Vancleve Tuesday, March 29 on a $36.5 million highway construction project in Breathitt County. A new 3.5-mile section of KY 15 will be four-laned and improved to bypass a dangerous section of highway where five people have been killed and 35 injured in 55 wrecks over the last two years. The project is part of an overall plan to improve KY 15 in Breathitt and Perry counties. Upwards of 30,000 vehicles use portions of this road daily.

According to a press release from Gov. Fletcher’s communications office, new welcome signs such as these are being installed near the state’s entries points. Eleven large signs will be installed along the state’s interstates and approximately 60 smaller signs will be installed along secondary roads. The large signs cost $40,000 to produce.

Photograph courtesy Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

On Wednesday, March 23, 2005, Gov. Ernie Fletcher unveiled signs to mark the proposed corridor of I-66 through Southern Kentucky at events in Glasgow and Columbia. As of Friday, March 25, 2005 at least two of these signs had been installed along the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway: one along the parkway’s eastbound lanes at its western terminus and one along the westbound lanes at exit 11.

See also: Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway route marker and Future I-66 Corridor marker.

This summer Illinois will begin using automated cameras to issue speeding tickets in work zones. The law authorizing the use of the speed cameras stipulates that tickets only be issued when workers are present and that signs mark work zones where cameras are present. As of Jan. 1, fines for speeding through work zones increased to $375 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second offense.

More information: Associated Press: Cameras to nab Illinois work zone speeders starting this summer (March 30, 2005) 

WBKO 13 is reporting that work to widen I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Warren County is expected to begin this summer: WBKO 13: Interstate 65 Set to Expand (March 30, 2005) 

Work to rebuild the I-65 bridges over the Salt River in Bullitt County has been causing gridlock throughout the area: WAVE 3: Gridlock Caused By I-65 Construction Affecting Area Drivers, Businesses (March 30, 2005) 

The Westport Road widening project will include the planting of shrubbery along the newly widened highway. Construction on the final phase of the project, an interchange with the Watterson Expressway (I-264), is expected to begin in June 2006.

More information: Courier-Journal: Widening Westport Road (March 30, 2005) 

The Roebling Suspension Bridge will be painted this year, but a color has to be chosen first: Cincinnati Enquirer: Is UK blue OK hue for Roebling? (March 26, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Pick a color, any color (March 26, 2005) 

The US 62 Tyrone Bridge was closed earlier this week in order to allow repairs to be made to its deck.

More information: The Anderson County News: Bridge work (March 23, 2005) , The Anderson County News: With repairs complete early, bridge reopens (March 30, 2005) 

This week, Shelby County officials got their first look at plans to widen I-64 to six lanes through the county. Work is expected to start in 2007 to widen I-64 from the Gene Snyder Freeway (Interstate 265/KY 841) in Jefferson County to mile marker 35 in Shelby County. The work will begin at the Gene Snyder Freeway and progress eastwards in four mile sections. The project should be completed by 2011.

More information: Shelby County Sentinel News: Officials get first look at I-64 widening plan (March 23, 2005) 

The state government will sell $75 million in County Road and Municipal Road bonds: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Governor Fletcher announces award of $75 million in County Road and Municipal Aid bonds;

Money awarded to eligible communities as part of newly passed budget (March 23, 2005) 

A public meeting to discuss the proposed widening of US 27 between KY 34 in Garrard County and US 150 in Lincoln County will be held between 5:00pm and 8:00pm on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at the Garrard County High School.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Item No. 7-196.00 , Danville Advocate Messenger: State looking at another U.S. 27 widening project (March 25, 2004) 

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Maxwell Clay Bailey resigned Monday to become head of the Kentucky Department of Emergency Management. The retired Air Force general was appointed as head of the transportation cabinet by Gov. Ernie Fletcher in December 2003.

Bailey will be replaced by Bill Nighbert on an interim basis.

More information: Courier-Journal: Transportation secretary quits to take new post (March 22, 2005) 

Work to repaint Ashland’s twin Ohio River bridges is expected to begin this summer. A project to repaint the 13th Street Bridge is expected to begin this summer, and work to repaint the 12th Street Bridge is expected to begin in 2007.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Ohio River bridges to get facelift (March 21, 2005) 

Last week, Gov. Ernie Fletcher unveiled new signs marking the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway as the proposed path of I-66.

More information: Glasgow Daily Times: I-66 signage to be unveiled here Wednesday (March 19, 2005) , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: I-66 event planned (March 22, 2005) , WKYT: Signs Going Up Along I-66 Route (March 23, 2005) , Glasgow Daily Times: Governor unveils I-66 Corridor sign here (March 24, 2005) , Glasgow Daily Times: New I-66 signs point the way (March 28, 2005) 

The state will soon begin the process of purchasing right-of-way for a project to reconstruct KY 163 near Tompkinsville.

More information: Glasgow Daily Times: State announces work on 163 (March 19, 2005) 

A public meeting to discuss the KY 163 bypass project will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2005 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Tompkinsville Elementary School: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Item No. 3-7020.00 

The city of Berea has sold two parcels of land that will be used to construct a new bypass to the state government. The bypass will connect KY 21 and KY 595 near I-75.

More information: Richmond Register: Berea sells bypass right of way to state (March 16, 2005) 

Gov. Ernie Fletcher has approved a $3 million study to determine the feasibility of an extension of KY 9 (the AA Highway) into downtown Newport: Cincinnati Enquirer: Newport closer to link to AA Highway (March 15, 2005) 

Work to repair a section of KY 8 in Campbell County that has slowly been sliding into the Ohio River will close the road for at least a year: Kentucky Post: Landslide closes part of Ky. 8 (March 14, 2005) 

Residents of Licking Riverside Historic Neighborhood in Covington are seeking traffic changes to reduce thru traffic through neighborhood streets. The neighborhood sits near the approach to the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: New traffic route urged (March 14, 2005) 

Engineers have been examining how to change Dixie Highway to adapt to traffic. Some proposals include putting traffic lights along the road under control of human operators. Dixie Highway runs parallel to I-71/I-75, and receives some of I-71/I-75’s traffic whenever an accident forces a closure of the interstate.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Busy Dixie under scrutiny (March 13, 2005) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that contractors have begun work on the Goddard Covered Bridge along KY 32 in Fleming County. The initial work will place cribbing under the bridge so it can be temporarily raised above its supports during restoration.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Help arrives for historic Goddard bridge (March 10, 2005) 

The Knox County Fiscal Court recently passed a resolution in support of the I-66 Foundation. The foundation was created last year to promote the construction of the proposed Interstate 66 through Southern Kentucky. Interstate 66 is not expected to pass through Knox County; however, Knox County is adjacent to Clay and Laurel Counties where I-66 is expected to parallel the Hal Rogers Parkway.

More information: Corbin Times-Tribune: Knox backs I-66 Foundation (March 10, 2005) 

After a week of delays, all lanes of I-75 in northern Tennessee have opened though work to repair a collapse of part of the interstate will continue for some time.

More information: WKYT: Interstate 75 reopened in Campbell County (March 11, 2005) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: One lane of Interstate 75 southbound REOPEN to traffic in Tennessee (March 11, 2005) , Associated Press: Work on slope expected to snarl I-75 traffic (Mar. 26, 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)