US 641

The final section of the newly construction four-lane route for KY 80 between Aurora and Mayfield will open soon. The new KY 80 runs further south than its original routing and crosses US 641 closer to Murray than the original route. KY 80's original route has been signed as KY 402 for several years. The opening of the new route will once again make KY 80 a continuous route.

More information: Associated Press: New highway stretch nearly done (Oct. 28, 2009) 

From Department of Highways District 1 (Sept. 1, 2009):

Preparations for New Bridge Require Closure of US 62/US 641 Across Kentucky Dam Starting September 9th
Closure to allow temporary connections to last about 3 weeks

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. — A contractor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to temporarily close US 62 and US 641 across Kentucky Dam starting Wednesday, September 9th, 2009, to begin preliminary road work required to tie in a new Tennessee River Bridge being constructed below the dam.

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Unspecified budget delays are said to be delaying the completion of a new bridge over the Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam: Marshall County Tribune-Courier: Cutbacks slow Kentucky Dam lock project (July 7, 2006) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has allocated $3.5 million for acquisition of right-of-way for a project to widen US 641 between Marion and Eddyville. This money is for the first phase of the project—a 5.6-mile section in Crittenden County. Construction is expected to begin on this section in 2007.

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Right-of-way money set aside for 10-mile highway extension (Sept. 12, 2005) 

Work has begun to appraise parcels of land that lie in the path of the US 641 widening project between Marion and Eddyville: The Crittenden Press: U.S. 641 appraisals are under way (March 31, 2005) 

The completion of a new lock at Kentucky Dam is not expected until 2010 or 2011. Part of the project includes the relocation of US 62/US 641 and the Paducah & Louisville Railroad to new bridges downstream from the dam. Those bridges are currently under construction: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: TVA board applauds city, county growth (Oct. 28, 2004) 

• A section of the Blue Grass Parkway was temporarily closed in early July due to a chemical spill: WKYT: Bluegrass Parkway Reopened Following Chemical Spill (July 12, 2004) , Associated Press: Accident closes part of Bluegrass Parkway (July 13, 2004) 
• The I-64 Sherman Minton over the Ohio River was temporarily closed in early August after being struck by a barge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-64 bridge closed after being hit by barge (Aug. 8, 2004) 
• Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey gave Associated Press reporter Joe Biesk a guided tour of the Transportation Cabinet’s new headquarters: Bailey relies on military experience as transportation secretary (July 12, 2004) 
• Work continues at the US 41/US 60 interchange in Henderson: The Henderson Gleaner: Another bypass ramp closing (July 13, 2004) 
• The first phase of construction has begun an Oldham County recreation trail. The trail is being constructed on an abandoned railroad right-of-way: Courier-Journal: First phase of construction begins on Oldham walking trail (July 13, 2004) 
• Butler County officials have voted to close Aberdeen Church Road. The road was used by some residents who felt a nearby intersection of KY 79 was unsafe; however, accident data shows that the interchange is not unsafe and Butler County leaders believe the road to be closed is more dangerous: Bowling Green Daily News: Butler says road too dangerous to stay open (July 13, 2004) 
• Several projects in Pulaski County are nearing completion: WYMT Mountain News: Millions Of Dollars Are Being Spent in Road Projects in Southern KY (July 14, 2004) 
• The lack of a state budge could cause delays to a number of road projects statewide: Bowling Green Daily News: Budget: Projects may be delayed (July 14, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Several area highway projects delayed (July 25, 2004) , Danville Advocate-Messenger: Kentucky's road projects taking bumpy path (July 26, 2004) , Kentucky Post: Stalled budget may stall road projects (July 26, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Western Kentucky road projects facing delays (Aug. 2, 2004) , Evansville Courier-Press: Lawmakers expect widening of U.S. 641 to proceed, despite budget impasse (Aug. 16, 2004) 
• Impact studies related to a project to reconstruct US 31E in Bullitt, Spencer, and Nelson Counties is behind schedule: Kentucky Standard: State's U.S. 31E project behind schedule (July 14, 2004) 
• A hearing regarding Convington’s citation of CSX for allowing a railroad overpass to deteriorate was delayed so CSX could prepare a defense: Kentucky Post: Hearing on rail bridge delayed (July 15, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington wants CSX bridge fixed (July 29, 2004) 
• A resident of Oldham County is backing a campaign to rename the KY 329 Pewee Valley bypass in honor of veterans: Courier-Journal: Oldham bypass is step closer to honoring war veterans (July 16, 2004) , Oldham Era: Legion receives local support to rename bypass (July 30, 2004) 
• A new book on scenic drives will feature Powell County’s Red River Gorge National Scenic Byway among the country’s fifteen best scenic drives: Courier-Journal: Book salutes E. Kentucky scenic route (July 23, 2004) 
• The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss the possible impact of a project to reconstruction KY 55 near the Nelson and Spencer County line: Kentucky Standard: KTC meets with citizens about KY 55 project (July 23, 2004) 
• A $1 million study of I-471 suggests reconstruction of the I-471/I-275 interchange and construction of ramps at the Ohio River bridge: Cincinnati Enquirer: I-471 study to include new ramps at each end (July 28, 2004) 

Over fifty photographs have been added to the site. They concern:

• The Cave-in-Rock Ferry in Crittenden County
• Bridges along KY 7, KY 30, and KY 52
• Signs from around Kentucky
• A Former Toll Bridge across the Green River
• Bridges along US 62
• An Abandoned Tunnel along US 68

The US Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of building a new rail and highway bridge over the Tennessee River just below Kentucky Dam. The bridge is part of a project to build a large navigation lock at Kentucky Dam. The total cost of the project is expected to be $650,000,000. The 1200-foot bridge is expected to open in 2006; lock construction should be completed in 2012.

The bridge will carry US 62 and US 641. Both routes currently cross the river via a road on top of the dam.

More information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: New bridge opens '06 (Nov. 6, 2003) 

New information about several projects has been added to the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Planning website:

• US 421 Reconstruction in Jackson County 
• US 641 Widening in Caldwell and Lyon County 
• New Taylorsville Northwest Connector Route in Spencer County 
• New Leitchfield Bypass in Grayson County 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled the following public meetings to discuss various road projects in Kentucky:

• September 29 and 30 - Study US 641 in Lyon and Caldwell Counties: KYTC Division of Planning: US 641 
• October 9 - New interchange on I-65 in northern Warren County: KYTC: I-65/US 31W Connector Public Meeting Notice 
• October 9 - New KY 6 connector for Woodbine to Corbin Bypass in Knox and Whitley Counties: KYTC: KY 6 Public Meeting Notice 
• October 21 - Study US 421 in Jackson County: KYTC Division of Planning: US 421 Meeting Announcement 
• October 23 - Eastern Nicholasville Bypass in Jessamine County: KYTC: Eastern Jessamine Public Meeting Notice 
• November 6 - Rock fall correction and flood mitigation on KY 1964 in Woodford County: KYTC: Clifton Road Public Meeting Notice 

More information: Kentucky New Era (Hopkinsville): Public invited to view proposed U.S. 641 plans (Sept. 16, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Interchange Meeting Set (Sept. 26, 2003) 

Transportation officials announced at recent meetings in Western Kentucky that final designed for a new four-lane US 641 between Marion and Eddyville should be complete by December 1.

More information: Princeton Times Leader: Transportation officials offer update on U.S. 641 relocation project (July 30, 2003) 

I have added a new image gallery consisting of photographs I took of the roads of the Land Between the Lakes. Subjects covered include the US 68/KY 80 bridges over the two lakes, the KY 453 bridge over the Between the Rivers Canal, and road over Kentucky Lake.

The exit from US 68/KY 80 to The Trace.

Crossing the US 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake.

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A new four lane route for KY 80 has recently opened between US 68 at Aurora and US 641 at Murray has recently been completed. The Murray to Mayfield section is expected to be open by Spring 2004.

More information: WPSD: Highway 80 Could be Complete in Two Years (Nov. 1, 2002) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Professional Services has posted several procurement bulletins . Even if you aren't a contractor, these bulletins are useful for learning about upcoming road projects. Recent bulletins include:

• preliminary design of a new interchange near mile 27 on the Daniel Boone Parkway ,
• widening of Hurstbourne Parkway (KY 1747) near I-64 and US 60 in Jefferson County ,
• reconstruct KY 1848 near I-64 in Shelby County ,
• preliminary engineering for reconstructing part of KY 194 in Pike County ,
• design for US 641 relocation in Crittenden and Lyon county ,
• design for US 60 widening in Ballard and McCracken county ,
• scoping study for the proposed Heartland Parkway ,
• bridge replacement on KY 22 in Pendleton county ,
• design for KY 1/KY 7 widening project in Carter county ,
• design of a new connector between KY 6 and the Corbin by-pass in Knox and Whitley counties ,
• and preliminary engineering of a railroad grade separation on KY 80 in Pike County .

The KYTC is planning to build a four lane corridor between Marion and Eddyville. The route is expected to stimulate economic development in an area whose current primary route is the two lane US 60. Planning and design is expected to begin this year with right of way acquisition expected in 2004.

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Highway promises growth  (no longer online)

The Benton Tribune-Courier reports in this August 29, 2001 article  that pre-construction work has begun on widening KY 348 from the Jackson Purchase Parkway to US 641 in Benton. Construction is schedules for 2004, but may be moved to 2003.

The KYTC has posted materials from a public meeting  about the proposed widening of US 641 south of Murray. Materials include details on alternate proposals, cost estimates, a questionnaire, and environmental study map.

• Materials from Aug. 16, 2001 public meeting 
• Materials from Jan. 11, 2001 public meeting