September 2005

Work is set to begin on the second phase of a KY 17 widening project in Kenton County: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Ky. 17 work ready to start (Aug. 27, 2005) 

Drivers crossing between Paducah and Illinois will face delays because of a maintenance project on the US 45 Brookport Bridge: WPSD NewsChannel 6: Kentucky/Illinois: Bridge Construction Means Long Delays for Drivers (Aug. 24, 2005) 

Utility work recently began along a stretch of US 431 that will be re-aligned in McLean County: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: U.S. 431 realignment in McLean begins (Aug. 24, 2005) 

Gov. Fletcher recently signed documents naming US 25E from Corbin to Middlesboro the Daniel Boone-Cumberland Gap Wilderness Trail. Controversy arose in 2003 when outgoing Gov. Paul Patton (a Democrat) renamed the Daniel Boone Parkway in honor of sitting U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers (a Republican).

More information: WKYT: Daniel Boone to get back on the road (Aug. 8, 2005) , Associated Press: Daniel Boone's name to go on Highway U.S. 25E (Aug. 9, 2005) , Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Communication Office: Governor Ernie Fletcher signs Executive Order naming southeastern Kentucky road after Daniel Boone (Aug. 9, 2005) 

Associated Press: Debate grows over impact of I-69 in western Ky., Tenn. (Aug. 7, 2005) 

A bridge on Fern Creek Road in Jefferson County was recently widened: Courier-Journal: Road will reopen with wider bridge; Cedar Creek span is near subdivision (Aug. 3, 2005) 

Plans for a redesigned Spaghetti Junction in downtown Louisville will be changed to avoid impacting the city’s Extreme Park: Courier-Journal: Planners do a 180 on Extreme Park; Pillars for Spaghetti Junction won't be in skate area (July 29, 2005) 

The CSX railroad company has responded to concerns of the city of Worthville. The railroad operator has agreed to cleanup its rail yard in the city and repair an aging crossing: WAVE 3: CSX Railroad Responds To Town's Complaints 

The state has backed down from a plan to improve access to the Little Sheppard Trail by paving it. Area residents feared that the trail which winds down the spine of Pine Mountain would become a road for vehicle traffic.

More information: Associated Press: State won't pave primitive trail on Pine Mountain (July 18, 2005) 

Work will soon begin to widen another 4.4 miles of I-75 between Lexington and the Ohio River. Eaton Asphalt Paving Co was recently awarded a $22.49 million contract to widen a section of the highway in Grant County; when this project is complete only 14.6 miles of the 94 mile Ohio River to Lexington section of the highway will be left to be widened.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-75 about to get new lanes; Work starts Monday to widen stretch from N.Ky. to Lexington (July 16, 2005) 

The R.J. Corman Railroad Company began removing the rails and ties from the Dawkins Line in July. A group known as the Appalachian Rail Preservation Association had previously expressed interest in keeping the line intact so it could be used for a tourist attraction.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: R.J. Corman pulls up part of rail line (July 15, 2005) 

In July, stonemasons began work to rebuild abutments for the Goddard Bridge. The covered bridge off KY 32 in Fleming County is undergoing a restoration project.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Stonemasons to converge for Goddard Bridge Project (July 14, 2005) 

The Federal Aviation Administration has raised concerns that a proposed cable-stayed bridge across the Ohio River between Ironton, Ohio and Russell, Kentucky might interfere with navigation to a nearby airport. The $68 million bridge will replace the current Ironton-Russell Bridge, a narrow, two-lane structure which was completed in 1922.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New bridge work could be delayed (July 14, 2005) , Ashland Daily Independent: FAA approves bridge (July 17, 2005) 

The “Big Four” bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville was inspected in July. Local officials hope to turn the abandoned railroad bridge into a pedestrian bridge: Business First of Louisville: Big Four Bridge inspection under way (July 8, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Engineering crews check Big Four Bridge; Study to determine work needed to create walkway (July 9, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Shore work to precede bridge walkway; Last phase nears for Waterfront Park (July 24, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Jeff taking 1st step on Big Four walkway; Grant to go for drawings of access concepts (Aug. 20, 2005) 

A new northeastern bypass around Winchester has brought about a call of caution from the city’s newspaper. The Winchester Sun has reminded its readers to pay attention to new traffic control devices installed on routes that cross the new bypass: Winchester Sun: New bypass will demand caution (July 7, 2005) , Winchester Sun: New northeast bypass opens (July 23, 2005) , Winchester Sun: 3 hurt in mishap on new bypass (July 25, 2005) 

A new connector route has opened in the Grant County city of Dry Ridge. The new route connects I-75 with US 25: Grant County News: Dry Ridge bypass opens (July 7, 2005) , (Covington) Kentucky Post: New Dry Ridge bypass is drawing accolades (Sept. 7, 2005) 

Traffic improvements are on the way for Shelbyville and Shelby County. Contracts for the construction of a new by-pass around the city are expected to be let this month, and a project to widen I-64 through the county is expected to begin in 2007: Shelbyville Sentinel News: By-pass bids set for fall, interstate work in 2007 (July 6, 2005) 

A temporary ferry across the Ohio River at Shawneetown, Illinois has allowed farmers to move equipment across the river while traffic is restricted on the bridge during a repainting project: Henderson Gleaner: Ferry solving Shawneetown Bridge worries (July 3, 2005) 

Contractors have encountered a problem with “surface scale” while repainting the I-65 bridge over the Ohio River. The rust-laced surface scale is proving harder to remove from the bridge than originally expected.

More information: Courier-Journal: Kennedy repainting faces new obstacle; 'Surface scale' on bridge proves difficult to remove (July 2, 2005) , Courier-Journal: State won't pay more for bridge work (July 7, 2005) 

There was also some sad news related to the repainting project. A worker died after falling from the bridge: Courier-Journal: Kennedy Bridge worker killed in fall (July 15, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Setbacks again mar Kennedy bridge painting; Company says it needs more time, money to finish the job (Aug. 27, 2005) 

A new bridge on Leestown Road in Lexington opened a week ahead of schedule in July. Work began on the bridge in April.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Leestown Road bridge opens early (July 2, 2005) 

Kentucky’s oft-derided “Mr. Smiley” license plate is being replaced with a much blander plate featuring the “Unbridled Spirit” motto: Hopkinsville Kentucky New Era: Goodbye smiley face...; Fletcher frowns on state's happy plates (June 30, 2005) , (Covington) Kentucky Post: New state motto hitting stride (July 5, 2005) , WAVE 3: Unpopular License Plates Phased Out Early (July 26, 2005) , Ashland Daily-Independent: Governor unveils new 'Unbridled Spirit' plate (July 19, 2005) , Courier-Journal: 'Unbridled Spirit' plates are unveiled; 'Smiley' licenses ride into sunset (July 20, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Smiley plate exiled early; Governor cites tag's incorrect 'panache' (July 20, 2005) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Governor Ernie Fletcher Unveils New Unbridled Spirit License Plate; Sun Sets On “Smiley Face” Plate (July 19, 2005) , Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Communication Office: Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate (July 19, 2005) 

Maintenance work to the twin US 41 bridges over the Ohio River was completed in July: Henderson Gleaner: Bridge work is done (July 1, 2005) 

LaGrange continues to consider alternatives for changes to downtown traffic that will be needed after CSX makes changes to the railroad running through downtown: Courier-Journal: LaGrange will consider downtown traffic plan (July 1, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Eroding train tracks concern officials in La Grange; Railroad recently made some repairs (July 8, 2005) , Oldham County Era: Council tables CSX plan vote (July 8, 2005) , WAVE 3: LaGrange Business Owners To Lose Parking After Railroad Tracks Are Widened (Aug. 9, 2005) , Oldham Era: It's two-way traffic: La Grange City Council chooses plan for track renovations; gives right to amend (July 22, 2005)