Simpson County

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting on Dec. 13 to discuss plans for widening a section of US 31W north of Franklin. This is another phase of an ongoing project to widen the existing narrow roadway between Bowling Green and Franklin to modern standards and add a continuous center left turn lane.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Simpson County U.S. 31W widening project takes first steps (Dec. 15, 2022) 

On March 16, 2021, representatives from consulting group Michael Baker international, the Bowling Green-Warren County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet conducted a virtual public meeting to discuss early planning for construction of a new interchange on I-65 in Southern Warren County. Such an interchange would fill a fourteen mile gap between the interchange at Exit 6 in Simpson County and the I-165 interchange at Exit 20 in Bowling Green. Three potential alternatives under consideration are at KY 240 (Woodburn Allen Springs Road), KY 242 (Richpond Road), or at Carter Sims Road. Improving connections with US 31W (Nashville Road) and KY 622 (Plano Road) are also being considered. Construction of any such interchange is believed to be eight to twelve years away.

More information:

• Bowling Green Daily News: Woodburn area grades best on I-65 interchange study (March 17, 2021) 
• I-65 Interchange Feasibility Study 

From Kentucky Transporation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 (Sept. 14, 2012):

District 3 Traffic Impact Report

 KYTC District 3:  Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd and Warren Counties

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has launched a pilot project to improve traffic control at incident scenes along interstate highways. As part of the pilot emergency responders will receive training and a standard kit including warning signs on a fluorescent pink background, portable sign supports, traffic cones, flagger paddles and high visibility safety vests. The initial pilot will be conducted in the Frankfort area and along the I-65 corridor from Franklin to Elizabethtown: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Transportation Cabinet launches pilot project to improve traffic control at incident scenes; Traffic control kits will help emergency responders improve safety (June 30, 2009) 

A project to widen I-65 from the Tennessee state line to Bowling Green is underway: Franklin Favorite: Highway project expected to take several months (June 15, 2006) 

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) 

WBKO 13 is reporting that work to widen I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Warren County is expected to begin this summer: WBKO 13: Interstate 65 Set to Expand (March 30, 2005) 

The Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Highways District 3 have released the results Traffic Safety Awareness Campaign that was conducted along US 31W in South-Central Kentucky from December 6 to December 12. The so-called safety blitz resulted in 871 traffic citations and hundreds of written warnings: Barren River Area Development District/Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3: Traffic Safety Blitz Helps to Curb Holiday Rush and Improve Safety Along US 31W Corridor (Dec. 22, 2004), Bowling Green Daily News: 31-W blitz successful (Dec. 27, 2004) 

State and local police held a “traffic blitz” along US 31W in the hopes of improving traffic safety: Glasgow Daily Times: Holiday traffic initiative would curb fatalities along 31-W (Dec. 11, 2004) 

US 31W has been identified as the most dangerous road in the Barren River Area Development District. In response to this, a $247,000 federal grant will be used to develop safety programs related to the highway.

More information: Franklin Favorite: U.S. 31-W targeted for attention (Oct. 14, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed chief highway engineers for nine of the Division of Highways' twelve districts.

• Edward “Ted” Merryman has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 1 and 2. Previously, Merryman was chief highway engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Greg Meredith has been reappointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Gary M. Raymer, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 4. [more information ]
• David Jones, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 6. [more information ]
• Jim Rummage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 7. [more information ]
• Katrina O. Bradley, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 9. [more information ]
• Samuel H. Beverage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 10 and 11. [ more information ]

More information: WKYT: Gov. Fletcher Hires New Highway Engineers (June 29, 2004) , Associated Press: Fletcher appoints top highway engineers (June 30, 2004) , Hardin County News-Enterprise: Highway engineer appointed in E'town (June 30, 2004) , Maysville Ledger-Independent: New KTC Engineer Sees District as Unique (July 2, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has released the draft final report concerning plans to construct a northwest bypass of Franklin.

More information: KYTC Division of Planning: Franklin Northwest Bypass (March 8, 2004) 

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey told state legislators on Wednesday that no projects were cut from this year's version of the Six Year Highway plan; however, some projects have delayed due to the states budget problems.

The list of projects is too long to list here; however, some notable projects are listed below.

• $118 million for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project. Some of this money will be raised by selling bonds that would be repaid when promised federal funding is allocated for the project.
• $78 million for reconstruction of the Owensboro bypass to the east of its current alignment. This is meant to improve access to the William H. Natcher Bridge.
• Widening of I-64 from Louisville to Shelbyville.
• Widening of I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Bowling Green.
• Widening of I-75 in Scott and Grant counties.
• Southern extensions of both the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parwkay.

A notable absence from the list is funding for replacing the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River; however, the project remains on the unscheduled needs list and officials claim that it is still a priority. Construction on the project is still over a decade away.

This year the transportation cabinet has split the list into projects that will receive federal funding and projects that will not receive federal funding. Projects that will be funded only by the state are expected to be delayed and will be prioritized by need.

Update (Feb. 29, 2004): More information about projects in particular areas can be found here.

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Work on Cemetery Road (KY 234) in Warren County is progressing. The new bridge over I-65 will open this week. The new interchange with I-65 is expected to open this fall.

Bids have been received for a 4.4-mile section of the new four-lane US 231 near the Warren County and Simpson County line. Grading on a section of the road near Scottsville has been completed and the surface may be completed this year. Another section of the road between Bowling Green and Alvaton including four new bridges over Drakes Creek and its flood plain could be complete by next spring. The entire project to widen the road from Bowling Green to Scottsville is expected to be completed in early 2004.

More information: Daily News: U.S. 231, new interchange work also progressing (Aug. 8, 2002) 

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Mar. 3, 2002 article  that the Barren River Area Development Highway Safety Committee, a group composed of area elected officials and highway officials, is proposing education, engineering, enforcement, emergency services and enactment to change hazards they see on Kentucky roads. There have been nearly 200 deaths on roads in the Barren River area since 1997. Greg Meredith, from the Department of Highways, says that some of the improvements are more attainable than others, but that state budget constraints make it unlikely that many of the improvements can be implemented. On proposal, the construction of a barrier in the middle of I-65, is already part of the I-65 widening project.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Feb. 10, 2002 article  that Warren County is slated to receive $187 million in road work during the next six years. This includes widening I-65, construction of new interchanges on I-65, extension of the Natcher Parkway, widening of Lovers Lane (KY 880), and widening of US 231 to Scottsville.