US 150

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels ordered the Sherman Minton Bridge, I-64's bridge over the Ohio River, closed indefinitely on Sept. 9, 2011 after cracks were found in the structure during an inspection: Louisville Courier-Journal: Sherman Minton Bridge closed indefinitely due to structural cracks (Sept. 9, 2011) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet et al:

Transportation Leaders Announce Traffic Plans With Indefinite Closing of Sherman Minton Bridge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 10, 2011) — The public should expect long traffic delays, especially during peak rush hours, with the indefinite closing of the Sherman Minton Bridge between Louisville and New Albany, transportation leaders on both sides of the Ohio River announced today.

Mayor Greg Fischer, joined by officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, announced the following items to help alleviate some of the congestion.

• When possible, it’s important for people to avoid peak travel times in the morning and evening.

• People should carpool – three or four to a vehicle – to help reduce the number of automobiles on the interstates.

• People should stagger their commute times – going to work early and leaving early or going to work late and leaving late.

• Companies should be as flexible as possible and allow employees to work from home…to telecommute…and to have staggered arrival and departure times.

• If possible, when traveling within Louisville, drivers should use surface streets and stay off the interstate. This will cause more congestion on side streets, however it will help alleviate cars on the interstates.

A detailed traffic management plan is being developed to ensure that congestion is alleviated as much as possible for as long as the bridge is closed. As soon as feasible, lanes of the Second Street Bridge will be converted to reverse lanes, though that is unlikely to occur before Monday.

When the reverse lanes are in place, there will be three southbound lanes and one northbound lane during the morning commute. For the evening commute, that will reverse, with three northbound lanes and one southbound lane. Traffic flow on the Kennedy Bridge (I-65) will remain normal.

Where possible, exit ramps along I-65 in Southern Indiana will be widened from one to two lanes to help traffic flow.

In addition, officials from the Transit Authority of River City are working with the two states to develop plans to use public transit to move people by buses across the river.

The Sherman Minton Bridge which carries I-64 over the Ohio River west of downtown Louisville was closed for about three hours this morning after being struck by a barge. An inspection found that the bridge had only suffered superficial damage.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Sherman Minton Bridge reopens; Strike by boat closed span for three hours; damage 'superficial' (Feb. 5, 2009) 

The Courier-Journal has posted a video of the Ohio River flowing past a barge lodged against the K&I bridge: Courier-Journal: Video: The Ohio River at the K&I Bridge (April 13, 2006 )

The railroad bridge is now operated by Norfolk Southern. At one time, it also carried automobile vehicle traffic.

Removal of the barge was delayed for some time: New Albany (Ind.) Tribune and Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: Barge to enjoy holiday weekend in area; Stuck visitor to remain a few more days (May 27, 2006) , Courier-Journal: Crippled barge uprighted, moved; Fleet will push it to Mississippi (May 31, 2006) 

The construction phase of a project to widen the southern portion of the Danville by-pass to four lanes may begin this spring. Bid will be let for the project is month.

More information: Danville Advocate Messenger: State to four-lane Danville bypass (Jan. 20, 2005) 

Mount Washington is home to a bit of signing oddity: instead of the old route of US 31E being marked "Business US 31E" it is marked as "US 31EX." Photos of this oddly signed route can be found here.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning is conducting a study concerning a new route connecting KY 33 north of Danville to US 150 east of Danville in Boyle County.

More information: Danville Advocate Messenger: State Seeking Input on Connector Road , Danville Advocate Messenger: Connector road designs unveiled (Nov. 19, 2003) , KYTC Division of Planning: New Danville Connector 

The Danville Advocate Messenger  reported on July 29, 2003 that work to rebuild the US 150 Danville viaduct should be complete by September 15 and that it should re-open to traffic by September 1. The viaduct originally opened in 1949. Years of salt and traffic have caused the concrete to deteriorate, and the Transportation Cabinet is replacing the viaduct as a preventative measure. The viaduct will retain its original arched architecture.

Two-hundred-and-sixty-two photographs of Kentucky's roads have been added to this website. The new photo galleries include:

• Bridges of the Ohio River - Several of Kentucky's 40 bridges across the Ohio River.
• William H. Harsha Bridge Photographs - Photographs of Kentucky's first cable stayed bridge: the William H. Harsha bridge near Maysville.
• I-64 - Sherman Minton Bridge - The I-64 and US 150 bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville.
• Shortway Bridge - The Old KY 1120 bridge over the Licking River between Kenton and Campbell Counties.
• I-65 - John F. Kennedy Bridge - The I-65 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• US 31 - George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge) - The US 31 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• I-65 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 30 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the new section of KY 30 under construction in Laurel County.
• I-65 Warren County Construction - June 29, 2001
• I-65 Warren County Construction - May 22, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - August 15, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - July 5, 2003
• I-75 - Miscellaneous Images - Includes photographs of I-75 widening projects south of Lexington.
• William H. Natcher Bridge - October 26, 2002
• William H. Natcher Bridge - February 8, 2003
• Louisville - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 3 and KY 645 - Inez - January 3, 2003
• AA Highway - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 67 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 80 - Miscellaneous Images - Along KY 80 in Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
• KY 101 and KY 259 - Edmonson County - November 18, 2001 - A new section of KY 259 and KY 101 under construction in Edmonson County.
• US 23 - Miscellaneous Images
• US 60 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the Cumberland and Tennessee River bridges.

A few new images have been added to the KentuckyRoads.com - Miscellaneous Signs and KentuckyRoads.com - General Images galleries as well.

Danny Lewis has created a website with information about the Cedar Creek Lake project  in Lincoln County. The recent creation of the lake involved the rebuilding of US 150 and KY 1770. Danny's site includes maps and photographs. Some pictures show part of the Old US 150 being slowly submerged as the lake level rises.

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted information concerning a scoping study  to determine a route for a connector route between US 150 and I-75 in Lincoln and Rockcastle Counties.

From www.kytc.state.ky.us/news/stanfordribbon-cutting.htm :

Frankfort, Ky. - Governor Paul E. Patton will be joined by representatives of Lincoln County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the new Cedar Lake Dam and US 150 reconstruction on Wednesday, September 4th, 2002 at 2:45 p.m. ET.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on the dam located approximately 6.5 miles west of Stanford on US 150.

A newly rebuilt six-mile section of US 150 in Lincoln County between Stanford and Crab Orchard has recently opened to traffic. The new road includes a dam on Cedar Creek. The project is expected to be completed soon and a dedication ceremony has been tentatively scheduled Sept. 4.

More information: Advocate Messenger: New Part of US 150 Opens to Traffic (Aug. 22, 2002) 

The above article also mentions a project on KY 501 to eliminate two 90 degree turns and a project to correct a rock fall hazard on US 27 in Lincoln County. The rock fall hazard was caused by people looking for the mineral millerite.