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US 23

[US 23]US 23 enters the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it crosses the Ohio River on the U.S. Grant Bridge near Portsmouth, Ohio. It passes through Ashland, Louisa, Ulysses, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, and Pikeville. It exits into Virginia via Pound Gap near Payne Gap, Kentucky in Letcher County. US 23 in Kentucky is known as the Country Music Highway. Signs along the highway note the towns where famous country musicians were born.

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Related image gallery: [US 23 - Miscellaneous Images]

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Related news topics: [Boyd County] [Floyd County] [Greenup County] [Johnson County] [Lawrence County] [Letcher County] [Pike County]


US 23 News Items

[US 460]
Construction under way on US 460 - US 23 interchange
Posted: 28-Feb-2011 10:43PM CST
Topics: [Pike County] [US 23] [US 460]

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 12:

Construction under way on US 460 - US 23 interchange
PIKE COUNTY – February 14, 2011 – Work is under way on the mega-interchange that will connect new US 460 to US 23. Bizzack, the state’s successful bidder on the project, moved onto the Sookey’s Creek site today to begin construction on what is estimated to be a two-year project.

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[US 460]
Groundbreaking set for new US 460; sections of highway may be open to traffic in three years
Posted: 31-Jan-2011 10:55PM CST

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 12:

PIKE COUNTY – January 12, 2011 – Friday, January 21, at 12:30 p.m. Governor Steve Beshear will join federal, state, and local officials to break ground for Corridor Q, the name given by the Appalachian Regional Commission for new US 460 in Pike County.

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[Commonwealth of Kentucky]
Cleanup from Recent Storms Continues
Posted: 19-Feb-2009 11:09PM CST

The state is still cleaning up from recent ice and wind storms.

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[US 23]
US 23 to get Weigh Station
Posted: 5-Feb-2006 2:29AM CST

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) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
US 23 Safer Thanks to Rock Fences
Posted: 2-Oct-2005 8:32PM CDT
Topics: [Pike County] [US 23]

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) [Outside Link], Associated Press: Test fences keep boulders off highways (Sept. 23, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
U.S. Grant Bridge Project On Track for October 2006 Opening
Posted: 20-May-2005 1:19AM CDT

Progress is once again visible on the U.S. Grant Bridge south of Portsmouth, Ohio. A new bridge is being constructed over the Ohio River on the site of a bridge demolished in 2001. The Ohio Department of Transportation has a scheduled opening date of October 31, 2006 for the new bridge.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Bridge to Portsmouth shows signs of progress (May 19, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[KY 645]
Preferred KY 645 Alternative Would Widen KY 32
Posted: 4-Apr-2005 1:36AM CDT

At a recent citizens advisory board meeting, a route that would widen KY 32 between Sandy Hook and Morehead was chosen as the preferred alternative for a proposed extension of KY 645 from US 23 to I-64.

More information: Morehead News: Proposed KY 645 widens KY 32 east; adds interchange at Rodburn area (April 1, 2005) [Outside Link], Ashland Daily Independent: Ky. 645 debates continue (April 3, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Ashland Ohio River Bridges to be Repainted
Posted: 1-Apr-2005 3:50AM CST

Work to repaint Ashland’s twin Ohio River bridges is expected to begin this summer. A project to repaint the 13th Street Bridge is expected to begin this summer, and work to repaint the 12th Street Bridge is expected to begin in 2007.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Ohio River bridges to get facelift (March 21, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Grant Bridge Opening Slides to Late 2006
Posted: 10-Mar-2005 5:32AM CST

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that the new U.S. Grant Bridge over the Ohio River at Portsmouth, Ohio should be open to traffic in late-2006. The new cable-stayed bridge for US 23 was originally to be opened in 2004.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: ODOT: Grant bridge back on track (March 9, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Coal-Hauling Roads Found to be Twice as Deadly
Posted: 19-Jan-2005 2:50AM CST

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that roads on which coal is hauled have twice as many deadly accidents as other roads: Lexington Herald-Leader: Coal-hauling roads: twice as deadly (Jan. 16, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
US 23 found to be State’s Deadliest Road
Posted: 10-Jan-2005 5:19PM CST

Records show that US 23 is the state’s deadliest roadway: Lexington Herald-Leader: Memorials every few miles on U.S. Highway 23 (Jan. 9, 2005) [Outside Link]

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[AA Highway]
Greenup County Asks State to Investigate AA Highway/US 23 Intersection
Posted: 28-Dec-2004 1:54AM CST

The Greenup County Fiscal Court has passed a resolution asking the state to investigate the intersection between US 23 and the AA Highway near Grays Branch. There have been numerous accidents at the intersection and Greenup County Commissioner Tony Quillen believes the turning radius at the intersection is too small: Ashland Daily Independent: Official asks state to examine junction (Dec. 27, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Parts of US 23, KY 67, KY 207 Closed after Chemical Leak
Posted: 12-Oct-2004 1:25AM CDT

A chemical leak at a DuPont plant near Wurtland forced the closure of roads in the area: Associated Press: Highway closed during chemical leak from DuPont plant (Oct. 11, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Prestonsburg Area Truckers Stage Protest
Posted: 1-Jul-2004 2:46AM CDT
Topics: [Floyd County] [KY 80] [US 23]

Prestonsburg area truckers staged a protest along US 23 yesterday. The truckers claim that enforcement of rules governing the weight of trucks is unfair: Floyd County Times: Truckers line up along highway to seek reforms (June 30, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[I-71] [I-75]
News Notes
Posted: 18-May-2004 3:38AM CDT

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky leaders continue to lobby for the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge: Kentucky Post: Bridge replacement touted as national priority (April 22, 2004) [Outside Link], Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea made for new I-75 bridge (April 23, 2004) [Outside Link], Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge plan calls for $15M (April 29, 2004) [Outside Link], Cincinnati Enquirer: Voinovich wants $15M for bridge (April 30, 2004) [Outside Link]

No state budget was passed, so there is no state road plan: Franklin Favorite: Area legislators predict state will have a budget (April 22, 2004) [Outside Link], Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: No budget means no road plan (April 25, 2004) [Outside Link]

Jim Reis recognizes the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for its work in securing money to replace the Shortway Bridge: Kentucky Post: A century of boosting business (April 26, 2004) [Outside Link]

Meetings on I-71 widening in Jefferson County bring a variety of opinions: Courier-Journal: Meetings on I-71 plans draw strong opinions (April 28, 2004) [Outside Link]

The Governor has signed a bill to expand the authority of the Buffalo Trace covered bridge authority: Maysville Ledger Independent: Denham sponsored bills signed by governor (April 28, 2004) [Outside Link] Public meetings must now be held before the state does any work to the area’s covered bridges.

A project to widen US 231 in Indiana from the Natcher Bridge to I-64 has begun: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Project to 4-lane U.S. 231 begins (April 29, 2004) [Outside Link] The first five mile segment should be complete in 2 years.

P rospect residents are worried about an intersection on US 42: Oldham Era: Prospect residents seek help with U.S. 42 intersection (April 30, 2004) [Outside Link]

The Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss a new I-65 connector in northern Warren County: Bowling Green Daily News: Road options for transpark shown (April 30, 2004) [Outside Link]

The Transportation Cabinet was recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for its work in protecting the Eggbert’s Sunflower: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Protects Endangered Eggert's Sunflower (May 3, 2004) [Outside Link]

Repairs were made to I-65 near mile marker 30 to correct a drainage problem: Bowling Green Daily News: Dangerous I-65 spot seeing changes (May 6, 2004) [Outside Link], Bowling Green Daily News: Speedy repairs on interstate are appreciated (May 8, 2004) [Outside Link]

The new US 23 over the Ohio River at South Shore is running “woefully behind:” Ashland Daily Independent: ODOT - Bridge project 'woefully behind' (May 13, 2004) [Outside Link] The new U.S. Grant Bridge is scheduled to open in 2005.

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[US 23]
Section of US 23 in Boyd County Names for Bluegrass Musician Melvin Goins
Posted: 20-Feb-2004 7:32AM CST
Topics: [Boyd County] [US 23]

A section of US 23—which is designated the Country Music Highway through the entire state—was named in honor Bluegrass Musician Melvin Goins today. Goins is a resident of Boyd County.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: Boyd's Melvin Goins to get stretch of music highway (Feb. 19, 2004) [Outside Link]

Update (Feb. 21, 2004): More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: Goins added to Country Music Highway (Feb. 20, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Ashland Museum Seeks Grant to Provide More Information about Local Transportation
Posted: 7-Feb-2004 8:59AM CST
Topics: [Boyd County] [US 23]

Ashland’s Highlands Museum & Discovery Center is seeking to a federal grant that would in part be used to provide more information about the affect of transportation on the development of the region.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Transportation in spotlight (Feb. 6, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Pikeville, Pike County May Sue Over US 23 Chemical Spill
Posted: 20-Jan-2004 7:42AM CST
Topics: [Pike County] [US 23]

Leaders in Pikeville and Pike County are considering suing Quality Distribution over a chemical spill that closed US 23-the major corridor through the area-for an entire day in August. Pikeville and Pike County allege that Quality Distribution has failed to pay the amount that government agencies have requested for reimbursement.

More information: (Pikeville) Appalachian News-Express: City, county may sue over chemical spill (Jan. 19, 2004) [Outside Link]

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[KY 67]
Final Section of the KY 67 Industrial Parkway Opens
Posted: 1-Oct-2003 2:14AM CDT

The section of the Northeastern Kentucky Industrial Parkway between KY 207 and US 23 at Wurtland opened on Thursday, Sept. 25. The two lane highway connecting I-64 to US 23 is intended to provide improved access to industrial development in Greenup County.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Industrial Parkway opens today (Sept. 25, 2003) [Outside Link], Ashland Daily Independent: 'It's a 50-year investment' (Sept. 26, 2003) [Outside Link]

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[KY 244] [KY 750]
Pond Run Road North of US 23 in Raceland Will be Widened
Posted: 13-Aug-2003 11:09PM CDT

Pond Run Road, which is part of both KY 244 and KY 750, north of US 23 in Raceland will see improvements thanks to a $300,000 grant from the federal government. The road will be widened from US 23 to the tunnels underneath the CSX rail yard. Widening on part of KY 750 south of US 23 was completed last year.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Expansion set for north side of Pond Run (Aug. 11, 2003) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Road Contractor Fined for Illegally Mining Coal During Road Project
Posted: 8-Aug-2003 10:35PM CDT
Topics: [Pike County] [US 23]

Two years after being cited by the Transportation Cabinet for delaying work on a road connecting US 23 and the Pikeville airport to illegally mine coal along the road's right-of-way, Elmo Greer & Sons of London has been fined $125,000. The company had been allowed rights to any coal uncovered during the construction of the road; however, Greer has been found to have illegally mined coal from a 40 acre waste area along the 2.7-mile road.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Road contractor fine took two years (Aug. 8, 2003) [Outside Link]

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[Commonwealth of Kentucky]
Over Two-hundred Photographs Added
Posted: 25-Jul-2003 11:36AM CDT
Topics: Topic listing supressed. [71 topics related to this item]

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

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

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[US 23]
KY 1384 Bridge over US 23 to be Renamed
Posted: 23-Jul-2003 7:43PM CDT
Topics: [KY 1384] [Pike County] [US 23]

The KY 1384 overpass over US 23 in the Pikeville Cut will be renamed on Monday, according to the Appalachian News-Express [Outside Link]. The bridge is currently known as the Masten Childers Bridge; on Monday the name of the bridge will be renamed the Velma and Masten Childers Bridge.

This bill adjourning the Kentucky General Assembly [Outside Link] (word document) on the occasion of Velma Childer's seventieth birthday on Jan. 24, 2000 contains some biographical information about Childers.

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[KY 645]
Public Speaks Out About KY 645 Extension
Posted: 18-Jul-2003 10:08AM CDT

Public reaction to extending KY 645 from US 23 near Ulysses west to I-64 is mixed. Some claim it will cause environment havoc; others say it will improve the local economy.

More information: Daily Independent: Public speaks on 645 (June 6, 2003) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Fences Being Installed to Limit Rock Falls
Posted: 12-Jan-2003 3:38PM CST

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is installing high-strength fences along some highways in Eastern Kentucky to limit the effects of rock falls. The fences are designed to catch falling debris and prevent it from blocking the road. These fences have already been installed along a section of Kentucky 1274 in Menifee County and are being installed along a section of US 23 in Pike County. Rock falls are common along highways in Eastern Kentucky. Recently, a rock fall on KY 1460 closed the highway for two days.

More information: Daily Independent: State tries fences to keep rocks off roadways (Jan. 9, 2003) [Outside Link]

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[KY 645]
KY 645 Regional Corridor Study
Posted: 30-Dec-2002 6:15AM CST

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted information a planning study [Outside Link] concerning extending KY 645 from US 23 near Ulysses to I-64

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[I-66]
Construction on I-66 in Pike County Could Begin Late Next Year
Posted: 6-Sep-2002 10:39PM CDT

A transportation cabinet highway planner, Keith Damron, reports that construction of a segment of I-66 in Pike County could begin next year. The actual beginning of construction is dependent on final federal approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation and available funding. This section of I-66 is about 30 miles long and would begin at US 23 in Pikeville and extend to the West Virginia border. This road is expected to cost $1.5 billion (or $50 million per mile).

More information: Floyd County Times: Construction of I-66 could begin next year (Sept. 4, 2002) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
New Turn Lane onto Ashland Bridge Working Well
Posted: 12-Aug-2002 7:52PM CDT

As reported earlier, a new turn lane was added at the intersection of Winchester Avenue and 13th Street in Ashland to provide better access to the Simeon Willis Bridge over the Ohio River. The new turn lane appears to be working as intended.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New turn lane on Winchester makes difference (Aug. 9, 2002) [Outside Link]

Thanks to Sherman for the link.

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[US 23]
Road Work in Ashland to Cut Waiting Time for Ohio Bound Travelers
Posted: 3-Aug-2002 2:49AM CDT

The Kentucky Department of Highways will modify the interserction of Winchester Avenue and 13th Street in Ashland to provide two turn lanes for cars turning onto the Simeon Willis Bridge over the Ohio River.

More information: The Daily Independent: Road work set to change Winchester (Aug. 2, 2002) [Outside Link]

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[Commonwealth of Kentucky]
Kentucky Highways Added to 'America's Byways' Program
Posted: 31-Jul-2002 12:54AM CDT

Three new America's Byways have been designated in Kentucky. These include US 23, "The Country Music Highway," in Eastern Kentucky; KY 15, "The Red River Gorge Scenic Byway;" and parts of US 25 and KY 229 which form "The Wilderness Road Heritage Highway." The National Scenic Byways Program was started in 1991 to preserve historic and scenic highways. It is administered by the Federal Highway Administration. These three routes are the first America's Byways to be designated in Kentucky.

More information: FHWA Press Release (June 13, 2002) [Outside Link], Messenger-Inquirer: Kentucky Routes Join America's Byways List (June 13, 2002) [Outside Link], Courier-Journal: Three routes added to scenic byway system (June 14, 2002) [Outside Link], Herald-Leader: Three roads are first in state added to America's Byways (June 14, 2002) [Outside Link]

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[Commonwealth of Kentucky]
Flood Endagers Greenup County Covered Bridge
Posted: 28-Mar-2002 9:45PM CST

Recent flooding has caused damage to a small county road that connects the AA Highway and US 23 in Greenup County, according to this Daily Independent article [Outside Link].

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[US 23]
Work to Improve Safety on US 23 in Catlettsburg Begins
Posted: 22-Feb-2002 6:12PM CST
Topics: [Boyd County] [US 23]

Work has begun to improve safety on US 23 near Catlettsburg. The work is aimed at preventing rock slides along the route. Lanes will be closed periodically through out the project which is expected to be completed in September.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent (Feb. 21, 2002) [Outside Link]

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[US 23]
Public Meeting: US 23 in Pike County
Posted: 4-Feb-2002 8:02PM CST
Topics: [Pike County] [US 23]

The KYTC will be holding a public meeting Thursday, February 6 at 5:00 pm in the commons area of Pikeville High School. The meeting is to discuss the US 23 Congestion Relief Project.

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[US 23]
KYTC Tests High-Tech Asphalt on US 23
Posted: 9-Jan-2002 6:12PM CST

The Ashland Daily Independent reports in this Dec. 30, 2001 article [Outside Link] that the KYTC is testing SMA asphalt on a stretch of US 23 in Boyd and Lawrence counties. SMA asphalt is an idea imported from Europe and is designed to handle heavy traffic and large trucks.

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[US 23]
Ohio DOT Studying New Bridge at Russell, KY
Posted: 8-Dec-2001 4:57AM CST

This Ashland Daily Independent article [Outside Link] discusses the possibility of constructing a new bridge to connect Irontown, Ohio and Russell, Kentucky. Thanks for the pointer from Sherman [Outside Link].

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[US 23]
New Access Ramp to Ashland Town Center Mall Opens
Posted: 5-Sep-2001 9:00PM CDT
Topics: [Boyd County] [US 23]

The Ashland Daily-Independent reports in this Sept. 5, 2001 article [Outside Link] that a new access ramp to the Ashland Town Center Mall from US 23 has opened.

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[I-64]
I-64/US-23 Interchange to be Reconfigured
Posted: 16-Aug-2001 6:14AM CDT

The Ashland Daily Independent reports in this August 14, 2001 article [Outside Link] that changes will be made at the US 23 and I-64 interchange to alleviate congestion caused by coal trucks.

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Updated: 28-Feb-2011 10:43PM CST

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