February 2006

Reader Jamie Middleton has submitted a set of photographs documenting the recently reconstructed section of US 421 in Harlan County. Thanks Jamie!

Beginning February 13, residents of highway District 12 will see highway workers removing signs that have illegally been placed in state rights-of-way.

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting on Feb. 21 to discuss the reconstruction of KY 101 in the vicinity of Chalybeate.

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Maintenance work on the KY 214 Cumberland River ferry in Monroe County that was scheduled for Jan. 21 and 22 has been delayed indefinitely. According to a press release from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3, the ferry was to be removed from the river, cleaned, and inspected.

A study of I-65 north of the Watterson Expressway in Louisville has resulted in a set of proposed changes to the highway: Courier-Journal: $54 million revamp of I-65 ramps urged; Prospects of state paying for idea are uncertain (Jan. 29, 2006) 

Two bills that would raise the speed limit on Kentucky’s interstates and parkways to 70 miles per hour appear to be on track for passage in the state house and senate: Lexington Herald-Leader: 70-mph speed limit looks as if it's in passing lane (Feb. 2, 2006) 

Gov. Ernie Fletcher recently appointed Marcie Matthews as the Transportation Cabinet’s State Highway Engineer: Press Release: Governor Ernie Fletcher Appoints New State Highway Engineer (Jan. 26, 2006) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently awarded a contract for the construction of the piers to support a new US 60 bridge over the Tennessee River near Paducah: Henderson Gleaner: Work to begin soon on new U.S. 60 bridge over Tennessee River (Jan. 25, 2006) 

Work is expected to begin this summer on a project to reconstruct the I-64/KY 180 interchange in Boyd County: Ashland Daily Independent: Summer to kick off I-64 Cannonsburg interchange overhaul (Jan. 15, 2006) 

At nearly $110 million, the low bid for constructing a new bridge across the Ohio River at Russell came in well above the Ohio Department of Transportation’s estimates: Ashland Daily Independent: $110M bid for new bridge puts funding in question (Jan. 13, 2006) 

State Rep. Melvin Henley recently told the Murray Ledger & Times that the next phase of the KY 80 widening project between Murray and Mayfield has been put on hold: Murray Ledger & Times: Murray-to-Mayfield road work on hold due to funding (Jan. 5, 2006) 

In effort to combat overweight coal trucks, the state will install a weigh station on US 23: Lexongton Herald-Leader: State to put scale on busy coal route (Jan. 4, 2006) 

Tolls are set to be lifted on the William H. Natcher Parkway and Audubon Parkway, Kentucky’s last two remaining toll roads, in the states fiscal year 2007, which begins July 1, 2006. The exact date that tolls will be lifted has yet to have been established: Lexington Herald-Leader: Last 2 Kentucky toll parkways set to be freed up (Dec. 24, 2005) 

Work to repair corrosion on the US 60 Spottsville Bridge over the Green River between Henderson and Daviess Counties has been presented: Henderson Gleaner: Spottsville Bridge work completed (Dec. 21, 2005) 

State Rep. Paul Marcotte, R-Union, has proposed building a toll road to connect several communities in southern Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Toll road on horizon? (Dec. 20, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to reconstruct several curvy stretches of US 431 in Muhlenberg County, including the so-called “Dead Man’s Curve.”

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Roadwork slated on dangerous curves (Dec. 19, 2005) 

Atlantic Painting Co., the contractor responsible for painting the I-65 Kennedy Bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville, recently walked off the project. The company claims that the weather is too cold for painting. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is unsure when work will resume: Courier-Journal: Painting work stops on Kennedy Bridge; State, company will discuss finishing job (Dec. 10, 2005) , Courier-Journal: State might extend deadline for painting Kennedy Bridge (Jan. 8, 2006) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently presented proposed alternatives for rebuilding and extending the eastern end of the Owensboro bypass: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Bypass extension plans to be displayed; Affected property shown for 3.4-mile project (Dec. 8, 2005) , Messenger-Inquirer: Residents along bypass extension route get look at plan (Dec. 9, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently presented proposed plans for widening US 68/KY 80 through the Land Between the Lakes: WPSD-TV NewsChannel 6: Kentucky: US 68 Expansion- From 2 Lanes To 4 (Dec. 5, 2005) 

A suggested proposal for the reconstruction of Spaghetti Junction would remove I-64 from downtown Louisville and route it into Indiana over the proposed East End Bridge: Courier-Journal: Plan would erase I-64 from downtown; Bridges proposal faces uphill battle (Nov. 25, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Public will get chances to see ideas for bridge; Two hearings set on downtown span (Nov. 28, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Downtown bridge ideas unveiled; Public provides feedback on designs (Nov. 30, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Bridge designs to be unveiled; Public can see how eastern span may look (Dec. 11, 2005) , Courier-Journal: Spaghetti Junction debated; Forum explores removing I-64 (Jan. 12, 2006) 

In a recent photo opportunity, Gov. Fletcher delivered checks to pays for the design and construction of a new bypass in Berea: Richmond Register: Berea road projects get $3.4 million from state (Nov. 22, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently held public meetings to discuss the chosen alternative for a connector between Old Henry Road at the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265) in Jefferson County and the Oldham County community of Crestwood: Courier-Journal: Old Henry Road bypass apparently set; Final hearing held on alignment plan (Nov. 22, 2005) , Oldham County New Era: Plans for Old Henry bypass move forward (Nov. 28, 2005) 

The Dover Covered Bridge in Mason County, which was recently restored, has been vandalized. Several names were spray painted on the interior of the bridge: Maysville Ledger Independent: Vandalism defaces historic Dover Covered Bridge (Nov. 18, 2005) 

Another phase of the Westport Road widening project in Jefferson County has been completed. The road has been widened to five lanes between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and Herr Lane. A new interchange with the Watterson Expressway during the next phases of the project: Courier-Journal: First part of Westport project completed; Road widening work was stalled for years (Nov. 17, 2005) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently held a series of public meetings to discuss plans to rebuild I-71 from “Spaghetti Junction” in downtown Louisville to the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265): Business First of Louisville: Transportation Cabinet to hold public meetings on I-71 changes (Nov. 7, 2005) 

Alternatives for upgrading Dixie Highway in Kenton County were recently presented at a series of public meetings: (Covington) Kentucky Post: Planning for the 'Dixie Fix' (Nov. 12, 2005)