US 42

The Courier Journal notes that it has been ten years since 14.7-mile stretch of U.S. 42 in Oldham County was designated one of Kentucky's Scenic Highways and Byways: Louisville Courier-Journal: This week in history (Feb. 9, 2009) 

Construction work has begun on the Louisville east end bridge project. This phase of work involves the reconstruction of the current end of the Gene Snyder Freeway at US 42: Busines First of Louisville: Bridges project to begin construction activity (March 2, 2006) , Courier-Journal: Relief on way for U.S. 42-Snyder intersection; Open house to let public examine project (April 26, 2006) , Lexington Herald-Leader: Ground broken for two costly Ohio River bridges (June 20, 2006) , Courier-Journal: Dynamite work to start at U.S. 42 and Snyder (July 19, 2006) 

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) 

A project to rehabilitate the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge was recently completed: Cincinnati Post: Clay Wade Bailey in good repair (May 14, 2005) 

Engineers have been examining how to change Dixie Highway to adapt to traffic. Some proposals include putting traffic lights along the road under control of human operators. Dixie Highway runs parallel to I-71/I-75, and receives some of I-71/I-75’s traffic whenever an accident forces a closure of the interstate.

More information: Cincinnati Enquirer: Busy Dixie under scrutiny (March 13, 2005) 

Louisville’s WAVE 3 gathers area-resident’s reactions to the balloons marking the path of the proposed east end bridge: WAVE 3: Prospect Residents Get Bridge Preview (March 9, 2005) 

On March 8th and 9th, engineers designing the new East End Bridge over the Ohio River in Jefferson County will use balloons to mark the approximate location and height of the approach to the proposed approach to the bridge: Business First: Balloons will simulate East End bridge approach (Feb. 28, 2005) 

March 9, 2005 Update: More information: Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: Engineers will use balloons to show bridge approach elevation (March 6, 2005) 

Local leaders expect a newly reconstructed stretch of US 42 near the Boone County town of Union to spur growth in the area: Cincinnati Enquirer: Road lauded as path to future (Dec. 9, 2004) , Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Opening Of US 42 (Dec. 10, 2004) 

A new bypass of Union in Kenton County has opened; however, the lack of sewers will slow development in the area: Kentucky Post: New U.S. 42 awaits sewer system (Oct. 15, 2004) 

A new bypass of the Boone County town of Union is nearly complete: Kentucky Post: U.S. 42 in Union nearing completion (Oct. 2, 2004) 

Work is underway to replace joints and replace the deck of the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge over the Ohio River at Covington. The bridge, which shares piers with the neighboring C&O railroad bridge, opened in 1974 and carries US 25, US 127, and US 42 into Cincinnati.

More information: Cincinnati Post: Quick rehab gives Clay Wade new life (August 24, 2004) 

Construction has begun a new route connecting the new exit 55 interchange on I-71 to the Markland Dam Bridge over the Ohio River has begun. The $17 million five mile project is expected to be complete in Spring 2006: Cincinnati Enquirer: Speedway road work to begin (July 14, 2004) 

At a recent meeting of the Dixie Highway Corridor Advisory Committee several ideas were proposed for reducing congestion on Dixie Highway in Kenton County. Among the proposals were construction of traffic roundabouts at several intersections, coordination of traffic lights, and a road “diet.” The diet would consist of reducing the highway from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction and adding a continuous center left turn lane. None of these proposals are final, and the group is expected to publish a report on possible solutions in June of 2005.

More information: Kentucky Post: Highway May Get New Look (July 9, 2004) 

Local business owners along US 42 in Union are worried about the impact a new US 42 bypass: Kentucky Post: With a new U.S. 42 coming, shops on the old road worry (June 19, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has awarded two contracts for design engineering on two segments of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project. Qk4, Inc. has been awarded a project to redesign the Spaghetti Junction interchange in downtown, and H.W. Lochner, Inc. has been awarded a project to design the extension of the Gene Snyder Freeway from I-71 to the new Ohio River bridge: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Two Kentucky Companies Named As Engineering and Design Consultants for Ohio River Bridges Project (June 17, 2004) , Business First: Consultants picked for Ohio River Bridges Project (June 14, 2004) 

Additionally, Kentucky and Indiana are soliciting for bids for a contract to design the bridges: Courier-Journal: State to seek bids on designs for new bridges (June 18, 2004) 

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) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea made for new I-75 bridge (April 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge plan calls for $15M (April 29, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Voinovich wants $15M for bridge (April 30, 2004) 

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) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: No budget means no road plan (April 25, 2004) 

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) 

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) 

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)  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)  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) 

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) 

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) 

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) , Bowling Green Daily News: Speedy repairs on interstate are appreciated (May 8, 2004) 

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)  The new U.S. Grant Bridge is scheduled to open in 2005.

An accident involving a tanker truck carrying hydrochloric acid forced the early morning closer of I-71 between exits 44 and 57. The interstate will remain closed until at least Thursday. Travelers in the area are asked to use US 42.

Up-to-date information regarding highway conditions in the area can be found at: 511.ky.gov 

More information: WLKY: Kentucky Highway To Be Closed Until Thursday (Nov. 12, 2003) 

A new interchange has opened at mile marker 55 on I-71 to help with access to the Kentucky Speedway. The interchange is part of a connector road that will connect I-71 to US 42 at Markland Dam. The road is expected to be finished by the end of next year.

More information: KYTC Press Release 

According to this Courier-Journal article  the 2.2 mile section of the Gene Snyder Freeway (KY 841 at this point) between I-71 and US 42 will be closed for two weeks while the deck of an over pass is replaced.

The conference version of the Transportation spending bill  has passed both houses of Congress and is now waiting to be signed by the President.

Kentucky is mentioned several places in the bill:

• $2,000,000 for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) providing Eastern Kentucky rural highway information,
• $750,000 for an ITS for Lexington,
• $2,000,000 for a statewide transportation operations center,
• the corridors for I-66 and I-69 have been redefined: I-66 is now defined to use the Nunn Cumberland Parkway and I-69 is now defined to use the Carrol Purchase Parkway,
• Kentucky may now post signs saying "Future I-69" on the Purchase Parkway and "Future I-66" in the Cumberland Parkway,
• $4,000,000 for to help access to an industrial park in Clay and Leslie counties,
• $50,000 for work on Kentucky 55,
• $1,600,000 for work on Kentucky 192 in McCreary county,
• $1,000,000 for improvements to the intersection at the end of Grover Carey Bridge in Owensboro,
• $250,000 for work on Kentucky 61 in Green county,
• $300,000 for work on Kentucky 92 in Whitley county,
• $20,000,000 for I-66 (I believe this is the Somerset-London segment.),
• $2,500,000 for I-66 in Pike County,
• $320,000 for work on KY 1848 between I-64 and US 60,
• $1,000,000 for the Monticello Street underpass in Somerset,
• $1,000,000 for work on the Pennyrile Parkway (I believe this is for the southern extension to I-24),
• $1,500,000 for work on Stone Coal Road in Johnson county,
• $2,000,000 for work on US 25 near Renfro Valley,
• $5,000,000 for work on US 27 between Somerset and KY 70,
• $80,000 for work on US 27 near Burnside,
• $850,000 for work on US 431 near Lewisburg,
• $500,000 for right-of-way for US 60 in Henderson County,
• $100,000 for work on US 41A,
• $50,00 for Estill County bypass lighting around Irvine,
• $300,000 for Estill County industrial park access road,
• $400,000 for Fegenbush Lane Bridge at Fern Creek,
• $1,000,000 for Henderson riverfront project,
• $1,000,000 for engineering work on Kentucky 61 from Kentucky 487 to Columbia,
• $800,000 for Johnstown Road,
• $2,350,000 for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Regional Trail Improvements,
• $1,000,000 for improved access to Louisville's water front park,
• $600,000 for median on US 42 from Harrods Creek to River Road,
• $1,800,000 for Owensboro Riverfront redevelopment project,
• $42,600 for Park City sidewalks,
• $2,000,000 for Somerset downtown revitalization,
• $6,600,000 for Southern bypass around the southwestern portion of Somerset,
• $125,000 for Vine Grove sidewalks,
• $2,000,000 for Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge,
• $1,400,000 for Cold Hill Road,
• $995,000 for Craigs Creek Road,
• $1,500,000 for Daniel Boone Parkway between mileposts 37 and 44,
• $2,000,000 for Brent Spence Bridge replacement I-75 and I-71 near Cincinnati,
• $375,000 for work at I-75 Exit 11,
• $2,500,000 for Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project,
• $885,000 for Kentucky Scenic byways (Country Music Highway, Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, Cumberland Cultural Heritage Highway),
• $30,000,000 for work Appalachian Development Highway System,
• $4,534,000 for the Kentucky Transportation Department to provide buses, vans, cutaways, and bus facilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
• $1,500,000 for Big South Fork Scenic Railroad enhancement project, and
• $5,000,000 for Southern Kentucky Intermodal Transportation Park.

Quite an impressive haul; however, there is no funding for I-175.