July 2005

Now that the future of the Goddard Bridge is more certain, the Buffalo Trace Covered Wooden Bridge Authority has shifted its focus to the region’s other covered bridge: Maysville Ledger-Independent: Covered bridge authority shifts focus beyond Goddard (June 28, 2005) 

A new bypass around the Grant County community of Dry Ridge will soon be open to traffic. A dedication ceremony was scheduled for today.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Dry Ridge bypass may spur business; New highway serves growing Grant County (June 28, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently published a special section covering proposed improvements to I-75 in Cincinnati: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-75: The Big Fix 

Work to a replace a bridge will close KY 270 in Webster County for approximately six weeks: The Henderson Gleaner: Kentucky 270 closing near Clay (June 26, 2005) 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a four year study of the unused locks and dams on the Green and Barren Rivers, and they have suggested removing Lock and Dam Number 6 in Edmonson County. Some area residents fear the removal of this dam will inhibit the continued operation of Houchens Ferry and Mammoth Cave Ferry–both of which cross the Green River in the pool formed by the dam.

More information: WBKO 13: Green River Lock and Dam No, 6 (June 22, 2005) 

Routine maintenance work will result in periodic lane closures on the US 41 bridges over the Ohio River in Henderson County: The Henderson Gleaner: Work set to begin on twin bridges (June 22, 2005) , The Henderson Gleaner: Work set to begin Monday on twin bridges (June 26, 2005) 

The transportation of a large container over I-64 recently slowed traffic in Indiana and Illinois: Evansville Courier & Press: Move of 'superload' to delay I-64 traffic (June 15, 2005) 

Plans for restoring the covered Goddard Bridge in Fleming County were recently unveiled: Maysville Ledger-Independent: Goddard Bridge restoration plans unveiled at meeting (June 14, 2005) 

Indiana has bought the first parcel of land that will someday become the right-of-way for the new Louisville east-end bridge: Louisville Courier-Journal: Indiana buys land for bridges project; Purchase is first in long process (June 12, 2005) 

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet salt storage dome in Daviess County was struck by lightning: WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: Lightning Hits Salt Dome (June 10, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently unveiled long-term plans to improve KY 22 in southeast Jefferson County: Louisville Courier-Journal: Ky.22 overhauls unveiled; Study suggests wider highway, other ideas (June 10, 2005) 

This summer the state will install shoulders along a section of US 60 in Hancock County: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: State to widen U.S. 60 stretch of U.S. 60 (June 10, 2005) 

A new traffic study may eventually lead to improvements to I-471. The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments recently approved a $750,000 study of the region’s “Southeast Corridor.”

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Study could help unclog I-471; OKI authorizes look at 'southeast corridor' in Campbell County (June 10, 2005) 

The state has promised to widen I-65 at the KY 100 interchange (exit 6) to improve access to a new commercial development.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: State agrees to widen I-65 for Garvin project (June 8, 2005) 

A nature preserve in Oldham County is planning on constructing a new type of road. The road will have absorbent shoulders to reduce runoff and be narrow and curvy to reduce speeding. The road will be constructed as an entrance to Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Oldham preserve plans new type of road; Design promises to reduce runoff (June 8, 2006) 

In February, Sen. Mitch McConnell presented Owensboro officials with a ceremonial $5 million check to pay for construction of the city’s Riverwall; however, that was last time city saw any money from the federal grant. The money was given to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and has yet to find its way to Owensboro.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Riverwall project may be delayed; $5 million in promised federal funding has yet to show up (June 7, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will demolish a historic bridge in Greenup after all. Concern from the public caused the cabinet to reconsider demolishing the bridge–which is on the National Registrar of Historic Places; however, no one came forward to offer to maintain the bridge, so it will be demolished to make way for a replacement. The current bridge has been closed since 2003 when an inspection found it was unsafe to carry traffic.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: State to build new bridge in Greenup (June 6, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer has provided a list of on-going road construction projects in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties: Cincinnati Enquirer: N.Ky. roads: Construction project updates (June 6, 2005) 

A dispute over ownership of a road in Marshall County has been ongoing for three years. An adjacent property owner claims the road is on his property; however, the county says the road has been owned by the county since the 1970’s.

More information: Marshall County Tribune-Courier: Three-year dispute over road continues (June 1, 2005) 

Perhaps by the end of 2006, Bowling Green residents will be able to walk along a greenway from the Lovers Lane Soccer Complex to the Riverfront Park. Construction of a section of the greenway from Riverfront Park to Kereiakes Park should be complete this fall. This will connect to part of the greenway that was completed as part of the Cemetery Road (KY 234) widening project. Another section of the greenway will be constructed as part of the Lovers Lane (KY 880) widening project.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Path to link Lovers Lane to riverfront (May 31, 2005) 

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill that includes $3.1 million for the construction of a greenway project in Louisville. The project will eventually form a loop along the Ohio River in Louisville and Southern Indiana–the two sides of the river would be connected by walkways across the K&I Bridge and the Big Four Bridge.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Greenway trail along riverfront might get $3.1million boost (May 31, 2005) 

Area residents are concerned about the state’s plan to pave 14 miles of the Little Shepherd Trail, a “primitive” trail across Pine Mountain in Letcher County: Associated Press: Don't pave trail, residents tell Fletcher; Little Shepherd is 'just a real treasure' (May 28, 2005) 

Work is progressing on a project to reconstruct KY 11 in Fleming County: Maysville Ledger Independent: First phase of Kentucky 11 work in Fleming County on schedule (May 26, 2005) 

WPSD NewsChannel 6 reports that Livingston County leaders report that for $100,000 they could have built the same bridge that the state is spending $300,000 to build. The bridge connects KY 133 to a small county road.

More information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: Road to Nowhere, Tracking Your Tax $ (May 23, 2005) 

Work to rebuild I-65 in Indiana just north of the Ohio River was nearing completion late last month. At that point the project was running seventeen months behind schedule and 17% above the original budget: Louisville Courier-Journal: I-65 work is all but finished; Construction delayed, runs over original cost (May 24, 2005) 

On May 20, the state Personnel Board voted to conduct an investigation into hiring practices at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Lexington Herald-Leader: Personnel Board votes to investigate (May 21, 2005) 

Gov. Fletcher has denied having a personal role in hiring: Louisville Courier-Journal: Fletcher denies role in hirings (May 21, 2005) 

See also: Full coverage from the Louisville Courier-Journal