Perry County

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10:

Two area counties to receive new driver’s license software, cameras
Driver’s license operation to be suspended for one day in Owsley, Perry to allow for installation

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 13, 2012) – Installation of software and cameras for Kentucky’s new driver’s license will require a one-day suspension of license-issuing activity in the circuit court clerk’s offices in Owsley and Perry counties in the coming days.

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From the Department of Highways District 10 on August 25, 2009:

Two-day closure planned for KY 451 in Perry County
Home Lumber Bridge project continues

JACKSON, KY – Beginning Thursday, Aug. 27, KY 451 in Perry County will be closed for two days in the vicinity of the Home Lumber Bridge project. This closure will allow the contractor to place fill material to create the roadway embankment leading to the new railroad crossing and the new bridge.

No marked detour will be posted for KY 451, but motorists can use KY 15 (the Hazard bypass) and Business KY 15 from either end of the bypass as an alternate route to downtown Hazard.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10 on August 13, 2009:

Installation of new railroad crossing to force two-day closure of KY 451
Closing related to Home Lumber bridge project

JACKSON, KY – Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, KY 451 in Perry County near the Home Lumber Bridge will be closed for two days for installation of a new railroad crossing.

The closures will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

This work is related to the construction of the new Home Lumber Bridge.

No marked detour will be posted for KY 451, but motorists can use KY 15 (the Hazard bypass) and Business KY 15 from either end of the bypass as an alternate route to downtown Hazard.

From KYTC Dept. of Highways District 10 (dated March 31, 2009):

JACKSON, Ky. – KY 1833 in Perry County is closed due to a rockslide. This closure will remain in effect until repairs are completed. An estimated time and date for completion of the removal of the slide is not yet known.

The location of the rockslide is near the entrance to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. Access to the park’s lodge will be impacted until the rockslide is removed.

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From KYTC Department of Highways District 10:

Contractors for the KY 7 construction project between Jeff and Viper in Perry County plan to do some blasting today. At this time, blasts are scheduled for around 10 a.m. and also around noon. Motorists should be prepared for possible long delays during these times, for blasting and removal of debris. These delays may last in excess of the typical 20 or so minutes usually required, especially if debris cleanup from the existing highway becomes necessary. Motorists should plan their travels along KY 7 accordingly.

The Courier-Journal takes a look at the proposed Interstate 66: Courier-Journal: I-66: A road to growth or path of destruction?; Environmental impact statement for first Kentucky leg being studied (Feb. 26, 2006) 

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) 

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.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has received a $3.1 million grant to fund various public transit projects in rural Kentucky counties: Lexington Herald-Leader: Transportation Cabinet gets $3.1 million (March 2, 2005) 

Another legislative session brings about another effort to rename a highway in honor of Daniel Boone. Current efforts are focused on renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro—which roughly follows the route of Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Trail—in honor of the early explorer. The former Daniel Boone Parkway between London and Hazard is likely to remain named for U.S. Representative Hal Rogers.

The Boone Society has posted a petition requesting that US 25E be renamed in honor of Daniel Boone on their website: The Boone Society 

More information: Associated Press: Replacing Daniel Boone not easy for congressman (Feb. 17, 2005) 

Astute observers will note that the text of the sidebar on the above referenced article is taken almost word-for-word from my topic describing the Daniel Boone Parkway/Hal Rogers Parkway.

Part of KY 267 in Perry County will be closed tomorrow for drain pipe replacement. The effected part of the road is between Typo and Bonnyman. The road is expected to close at 8 a.m. and to be reopened by 4:30 p.m. The closure is expected to last only one day.

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The Lexington Herald-Leader profiles U.S. Representative Hal Rogers who the dub the Prince of Pork: Lexington Herald-Leader: Prince of Pork; Hal Rogers hauls home tax dollars by the billions (Feb. 6, 2005) 

Descendants of Daniel Boone feel slighted by Kentucky politicians. First Paul Patton had the Daniel Boone Parkway renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway, and then state legislature failed to either re-rename the Hal Rogers Parkway or rename another road in honor of Boone.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Descendants of Daniel Boone feel insulted by politicians (Feb. 1, 2005) 

KY 451 in Perry County has re-opened following removal of a rock slide that forced its closure last week.

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A Perry County bridge that was found to be damaged has been repaired and reopened to regular traffic.

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Emergency work will begin on a small bridge along KY 2022 near Buckhorn today. A recent structural inspection found that the bridge had been damaged by overweight vehicles. Since then one lane of the bridge has been closed. The Department of Highways District 10 plans to replace the entire structure and expects work to be completed this week.

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WKYT and WYMT provides some information about three-phase plan to construct a new route between Harlan and Hazard: WKYT: U.S. 421 Improvement Project (Nov. 17, 2004) , WYMT: Improvements to a Dangerous Road May Be in the Near Future (Nov. 17, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has recently released the Final Report of the Pre-Design Scoping study for improvements to the Kentucky 69 approach to the Bob Cummings Bridge in Hawesville: more information 

Additionally, materials involving a study of a proposed route between US 68 and Tollesboro in Fleming, Mason, and Lewis County: more information 

Information regarding alternatives for a new connector route between Harlan and Hazard has also been posted: more information 

• October 26: Public meeting to discuss the replacement of the KY 2448 crossing of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (6PM-8PM at the Hazard City Hall) [more information ]
  
  
• November 4: Public hearing to discuss the reconstruction of KY 52 in Garrard and Madison counties. (5PM-8PM at Paint Lick Elementary School) [more information ]
  
  
• November 9: Public meeting to discuss alternatives for a proposed route between the AA Highway at Tollesboro and US 68 at Fairview. (5PM-7PM in the Fleming RECC Meeting Room in Flemingsburg) [more information ]
  
  
• November 29, 30: Public meeting to discuss construction of the new Interstate 66 between Somerset and London. (Nov. 29 5PM-8PM at London Community Center and Nov. 30 5PM-8PM at The Center for Rural Development in Somereset) [more information ]

US 68 and KY 80 played host a 400 mile long yard sale the first weekend of June: Bowling Green Daily News: 400-mile yard sale kicks off on 68-80 (June 3, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: The 400-mile sale (June 4, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Buyers crossing nation for statewide sale (June 5, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Festival gives Smiths Grove chance to relax, sell goods (June 6, 2004) 

A report by a tax watchdog group and environmental activist group denounces plans to construct a new Ohio River bridge in eastern Jefferson County and plans to construct Interstate 66 across Kentucky: Courier-Journal: East End bridge draws fire (June 3, 2004) 

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would keep the name Hal Rogers Parkway on the London-Harzard parkway and would name US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro the “Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail.” The house hopes that this compromise will be acceptable since US 25E roughly follows the path of Wilderness Trail. Daniel Boone helped blaze the Wilderness Trail in 1769. The path through the Cumberland Gap helped open Kentucky to settlement.

More information: WKYT: Daniel Boone May Have Another Road Named for Him (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: House votes to name highway for Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Resolution would name road after Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Part of U.S. 25E could be Daniel Boone Trail (Feb. 21, 2004) , Legislative Research Commission: Text of 2004 Regular Session House Joint Resolution 7 

Update (Feb. 24, 2004): More information: Middlesboro Daily News: Bill would name 25E for Daniel Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Wilderness trail may bear Daniel Boone's name (Feb. 23, 2004) 

A committee of the state general assembly has approved renaming replacing Daniel Boone's name on the parkway running between London and Hazard. The highway was known as the Daniel Boone Parkway until last spring when former Gov. Patton renamed it the Hal Rogers Parkway, in honor of the local U.S. representative. Under the proposed legislation the road would be officially known as the Daniel Boone-Hal Rogers Parkway. The legislation must be approved by the full house before moving onto the state senate.

More information: Associated Press: Developments in the General Assembly (Feb. 5, 2004) , WKYT: Daniel Boone Parkway? , Associated Press: Kentucky House panel OKs proposal to restore Boone's name to parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Parkway may be Daniel Boone's again (Feb. 6, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Nash highway resolution passes unanimously (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Boone, Rogers may share parkway name (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Committee OKs putting Boone's name back parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Panel votes to restore Boone name to road (Feb. 6, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has posted new information regarding a proposed new route connecting Harlan and Hazard. The material includes two maps of the area under consideration.

More information: KYTC Division of Planning: Harlan to Hazard Connector 

The last few months have seen the renaming of two parkways and the AA Highway. The Kentucky Post editorialized the situation: Kentucky Post: The name game (Sept. 17, 2003) 

State Representative Brent Yonts has filed a resolution to place two names on the parkway connecting London and Hazard. Yonts proposes the parkway be officially known as both the Hal Rogers Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. He hopes that the compromise proposal will please those wishing to keep Daniel Boone.s name on the parkway and still provide recognition for U.S. congressman Hal Rogers. Rep. Rogers helped secure federal money to remove tolls from the parkway; In May, Governor Paul Patton directed that the parkway be renamed as the Hal Rogers Parkway. Yonts. resolution cannot be voted on until the General Assembly convenes in January.

Meanwhile, Governor Patton proposed renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro to honor Daniel Boone. US 25E generally follows the route of Boone.s Wilderness Road. The road has been upgraded to four lanes over the pass 20 years.

More information: Courier-Journal: E. Kentucky parkway could get 2 names (Sept. 11, 2003) , Associated Press: Patton Makes Suggestion To Solve Parkway Uproar (Sept. 19, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Governor would name U.S.25E for Boone to defuse controversy (Sept. 20, 2003) 

A group representing the descendants of Daniel Boone has launched a PR campaign to express their outrage over the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway as the Hal Rogers Parkway. For the first time, a spokesman for Gov. Patton admitted that the governor recommended the name change to the Transportation Cabinet.

Former Gov. Louie B. Nunn has offered a renaming compromise. He has proposed renaming the Cumberland Parkway in honor of Congressman Rogers. In 2000, the state legislature renamed the Cumberland Parkway the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway in honor of the former governor without his consent. Nunn says the signs on the parkway could easily be changed to honor Hal Rogers.

More information: Associated Press: Descendants furious over removal of Daniel Boone's name from Kentucky highway (Aug. 23, 2003) , Associated Press: Former governor offers compromise to restore Daniel Boone's name to Kentucky parkway (Aug. 27, 2003) 

The Kentucky Post has published another editorial concerning the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway: Kentucky Post: Forgetting a hero (Aug. 7, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has released materials concerning a planning study for a new route connecting Harlan and Hazard. See here   for more information.

On August 6, the Associated Press picked up the news of the Daniel Boone Parkway being renamed for Congressman Hal Rogers: Associated Press: Congressman's name takes place of Daniel Boone's on Kentucky parkway (Aug. 6, 2003) 

Sources as varied as The Guardian , a British newspaper, and The Washington Times  picked up the story.

Update Aug 8, 2003: The Courier-Journal has posted an editorial concerning the renaming: Courier-Journal: Boone vs. Rogers (Aug. 8, 2003) 

A section of US 421 in Petty and Harlan Counties has been renamed in memory of WYMT-TV news anchor Tony Turner. Turner died on June 30, 2002 of injuries sustained during a car accident three weeks earlier.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Portion of U. S. 421 is Now the Tony Turner Memorial Highway (June 27, 2003) 

Updated: 21-Jul-2003 2:00PM CDT

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released the 2003 version of the official highway map on May 29. There were no apparent major changes over the previous year's, except for the fact that on June 10, the map was modified to show the former Daniel Boone Parkway as the Hal Rogers Parkway.

More information: KYTC: Official Highway Map 

The map is now available in rest areas. I picked up a copy at the Paducah Welcome Center yesterday. The cover art is a photograph of the William H. Natcher Bridge.

Midnight June 1, 2003 marked the end of tolls on the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. Transportation officials and U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers commemorated the occasion on June 9 at the London toll both on the Daniel Boone Parkway. At the ceremony, Congressman Rogers personally manned a bulldozer and knocked over one of the toll booths. It was also revealed at this ceremony that the Daniel Boone Parkway would be renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway.

Read more for more information about Hal Rogers, the removal of tolls, pictures of the parkways, the renaming of the Daniel Boone Parkway, and the controversy it sparked.

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U.S. Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers has secured $13 million in federal spending to eliminate tolls from the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. The state currently owes $26 million in bonds on the parkway system. This federal funding will eliminate half of the outstanding debt and allow the state to refinance the rest at a lower interest rate.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Rogers: Tollbooths on Daniel Boone & Cumberland Parkways are Coming Down , Herald-Leader: Tolls to end on 2 parkways (Feb. 15, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Tolls to end on Daniel Boone, Cumberland parkways (Feb. 16, 2003) , Daily Independent: Toll charges to be eliminated on highways (Feb. 16, 2003) 

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