October 2005

The city of Campbellsville is refusing to install "Children at Play" signs on a city street and claiming that such signs are illegal in Kentucky because they give children the right of way to play in the street. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says that while the installation of such signs is discouraged, they are not illegal and do not give children right of way.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: City says no to signs (Oct. 30, 2005) 

A project to reconstruct part of KY 32 in Rowan County is nearly half completed: Morehead News: KY 32 widening project nearly half finished (Oct. 25, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet expected to open the state’s first roadway constructed on a foam base ahead of schedule. A one-mile section of KY 8 along the bank of the Ohio River in Campbell County is being reconstructed in attempt to prevent problems with cracking and slipping of the road.

More information: Kentucky Post: Geofoam roadway to open in weeks (Oct. 24, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently announced a preferred route for the proposed reconstruction of US 31E north of Bardstown: (Bardstown) Kentucky Standard: U.S. 31E routes selected (Oct. 19, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer profiles the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, one of the planning agencies behind major highway projects in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky: Cincinnati Enquirer: All major roads eventually lead to OKI; Group heavily involved in local highways (Oct. 13, 2005) 

A year long rehabilitation project on the Shawneetown Bridge drew to a close in Ocotober: Union County Advocate: Shawneetown Bridge set to reopen (Oct. 12, 2005) 

The decision to use weathered steel to construct a new KY 90 bridge over Lake Cumberland has drawn some criticism. The steel never needs to be painted; however, some say the brand new bridge already looks old and rusted.

The old two-lane bridge at the site (constructed in 1950) is in the process of being demolished.

More information: WKYT: New Bridge's Appearance Draws Some Complains (Oct. 12, 2005) 

CSX Transportation has agreed to construct a bridge on Eagle Tunnel Road over the former site of the railroad’s Eagle Tunnel. The tunnel was day-lighted following a partial collapse of the tunnel in January: Grant County News: Eagle Tunnel gets bridge (Oct. 12, 2005) 

A recent river cruise allowed are leaders to view the potential paths of the new Ohio River bridges at Louisville: Jeffersonville Evening News: Cruise gives insight on bridge routes (Oct. 7, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Two meetings will seek ideas on design of East End bridge; Open houses set for today, Thursday (Oct. 18, 2005) , Jeffersonville Evening News: Area residents weigh-in on east-end bridge design (Oct. 19, 2005) , Courier-Journal: A recipe to rebuild Spaghetti Junction; Untangling plan will be unveiled this week (Oct. 23, 2005) , WAVE 3: Spaghetti Junction Makeover Projected To Cost $1.1 Billion (Oct. 28, 2005) 

One percent of the budget to build a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge will be used to improve the bridge’s aesthetics: Kentucky Post: Bridge will be one of a kind (Oct. 7, 2005) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Goal: Get bridge right; Much study underpins planning for Brent Spence replacement (Oct. 17, 2005) 

Main Street (US 25) in Madison County has been permanently reduced to two lanes with a continuous left turn lane. The new lane configuration is meant to reduce congestion caused by drivers making left turns.

More information: Richmond Register: Main Street no longer four lanes (Oct. 4, 2005) 

Work on US 79 in Logan County recently narrows the highway to one lane: Logan County News-Democrat&Leader: Bridge work on U.S. 79 to be one-lane (Oct. 4, 2005) 

The city of Covington has asked the Federal Railroad Administration to reinstate a quiet zone at seven railroad crossings in the heart of the city. If approved, some improvements may have to be made to improve safety at the crossings.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Trains may get quieter; Latonia complaints lead to action by Covington (Oct. 3, 2005) 

Gov. Ernie Fletcher is considering suspending the state’s gas tax. Such a move would result in a huge loss of income to the state’s road fund.

More information: WAVE 3: Governor Fletcher Considers Suspending Gas Tax (Sept. 30, 2005) 

The Eddyville City Council recently passed a resolution supporting the construction of I-66: Lyon County Herald Ledger: Eddyville City Council approves first reading of tax rate ordinance; passes resolution supporting I-66 (Sept. 14, 2005) 

A project to widen US 231 in Indiana between I-64 and the William H. Natcher Bridge might not be complete until 2011 under Indiana’s new ten-year plan: Messenger-Inquirer: Final leg of widening could be done in 2011; Work part of Indiana's 10-year road plan (Sept. 30, 2005) 

A project to add shoulders to a section of US 60 in Hancock County has been delayed after a survey found a natural gas pipeline under the state right-of-way. Extensive excavation would be required to move the pipeline.

More information: Hancock County Clarion: Widening on U.S. 60 westbound section facing likely delay (Sept. 30, 2005) 

Weight limits have been lowered on the US 60 Spottsville Bridge over the Green River after some rusting was found during a recent inspection: The Henderson Gleaner: Spottsville span gets new limits (Sept. 24, 2005) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Weight restriction put on Spottsville bridge (Sept. 27, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Project says a project to prevent rock from falling onto US 23 south of Pikeville has been successful. A fence was installed to catch falling rocks.

More information: Associated Press: Mountain highway safer thanks to rock-catching fences (Sept. 22, 2005) , Associated Press: Test fences keep boulders off highways (Sept. 23, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is offering a historic Perry County bridge to interested takers. The Federal Highway Administration will pay for the disassembly and transportation of the bridge; however, the new owner is responsible for site preparation and reassembly.

More information: WKYT: Own Your Own Bridge (Sept. 22, 2005) , Associated Press: State offers to give away historic bridge (Sept. 22, 2005) 

Contracts for the first phase of a project to extend the Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway to I-24 are scheduled to be let in November. Construction may begin as early as April. The first phase will extend the parkway to the US 68 By-pass around Hopkinsville.

More information: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Meeting to explain parkway expansion (Sept. 21, 2005) , Evansville Courier & Press: Parkway extension troubles homeowner (Sept. 25, 2005) 

Work began last month on the final phase of the KY 17 widening project in Kenton County. The widening project includes the construction of bicycle lanes along part of the route.

More information: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Last phase of Ky. 17 improvement project set (Sept. 21, 2005) 

Two companies have been fined for safety violations relating to an accident that caused the death of a worker on the Kennedy Bridge Painting project: Louisville Courier-Journal: 2 companies fined in fatal fall from bridge (Sept. 21, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is considering replacing the intersection of KY 56 and KY 81 south of Owensboro with a traffic circle (also known as a roundabout): Evansville Courier & Press: Traffic circle eyed for Owensboro's South Side (Sept. 19, 2005) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Transportation officials to discuss roundabout (Sept. 24, 2005) 

Recently, members of the public had the opportunity to express their opinion on the design of the two proposed bridges over the Ohio River at Louisville.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Public to get say on new bridge design; Downtown span's style, fit are topics (Sept. 19, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Residents' thoughts vary on downtown bridge (Sept. 21, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Thoughts on bridge flow freely at meeting; 'Spectacular' span? Low-maintenance? (Sept. 21, 2005) 

In other Louisville bridge related news, Indiana officials are urging that the proposed East End bridge be built before the downtown bridge: Louisville Courier-Journal: Eastern bridge priority urged; Officials say it will have greater economic impact (Sept. 29, 2005) 

A not-for-profit organization has raised and spent thousands of dollars to beautify the former L&N Bridge over the Ohio River at Newport; however, plans to transfer ownership of the bridge to Southbank Partners have been delayed. Part of the bridge—the former railroad tracks—is still owned by L&N’s successor corporation CSX Transportation. The road portion of the bridge has been converted to a pedestrian walkway and is owned by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Questions over who will pay for the upkeep of parts of the structure have lead to the delay in transferring the state owned portion of the bridge.

More information: Kentucky Post: Span's ownership remains with state; Public-private transfer delayed (Sept. 16, 2005) 

State Legislator Representative Brent Yonts (D, 15th District)  has begun a campaign to have US 431 widened to four lanes from Owensboro to the Tennessee state line: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Yonts pushing for four-laning of U.S. 431 (Sept. 16, 2005) 

The Kentucky Post takes a look at this history of the Roebling Suspension Bridge: Kentucky Post: After many false starts, Roebling spanned the Ohio (Sept. 12, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has allocated $3.5 million for acquisition of right-of-way for a project to widen US 641 between Marion and Eddyville. This money is for the first phase of the project—a 5.6-mile section in Crittenden County. Construction is expected to begin on this section in 2007.

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Right-of-way money set aside for 10-mile highway extension (Sept. 12, 2005)