Welcome to KentuckyRoads.com. This web site contains information about Kentucky's roads and highways collected by Jeffrey Carlyle. It is not associated with any government agency. For more information about this website see here.

About this image: The sign to the left is an example of Kentucky's standard welcome sign. This particular sign is on US 231 at the south end of the William H. Natcher Bridge in Daviess County.

From KYTC Department of Highways:

I-65 bridge rehabilitation work continues
Surface, joints being replaced on two sets of twin bridges in Hart County

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (July 1, 2009) — Work to rehabilitate two sets of twin bridges – over Green River and US 31W – continues along Interstate 65 in Hart County.

• Wednesday, July 1: Traffic will be pushed down to one lane and motorists can expect long delays while work is done on the southbound bridge over US 31W at mile marker 64.
• Thursday, July 2: Work will continue on the southbound bridge over US 31W until 10:00 am.
• Work will restart on Saturday, July 11th for the northbound bridge over the Green River at mile marker 61 at 4:00 pm.

There will be a signed detour following US 31W for wide loads during the construction work.

Motorists are asked to use extra caution and reduce their speed in the area.

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) 

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Dept. of Highways District 10:

JACKSON, KY – The bridge carrying KY 3347 (Shepherd Lane) over Meadow Creek in Owsley County will be closed until Thursday, May 14 for repairs.

Inclement weather during this period may force the closure to be extended as required to complete the work.

No marked detour will be posted, but motorists can use KY 30 and KY 28 as alternate routes.

A new traffic signal will be fully activated Tuesday at the intersection of US 62-Payne's Depot Road and KY 1973-Ironworks Pike in Scott County: Lexington Herald-Leader: New traffic signal on U.S. 62 in Scott County (Apr. 8, 2009) 

The general counsel for the Transportation Cabinet submitted a one sentence letter of resignation this week: Louisville Courier-Journal: Transportation Cabinet general counsel quits (April 4, 2009) 

From KYTC Dept. of Highways District 3 (dated April 1, 2009):

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Beginning tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m., KY 3225 (Old Louisville Road) will have a lane closure from the north side of the bridge to Ben's Bait and Tackle Shop while workers install curb, gutter and sidewalk.

This lane closure will only be in place from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from April 2 until Friday, April 10.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet recently began installing cable barriers in the medians of some stretches of interstate. These barriers are intended to stop errant traffic from crossing the median.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Public Affairs:

Median cable barrier installation to begin Monday along I-65 in Hardin
Motorists urged to use extra caution in the work zone

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 13, 2009) — Median cable barrier installation along Interstate 65, from mile marker 91 to mile marker 100, in Hardin County, is scheduled to begin Monday, March 16.

The northbound inside shoulder will be closed throughout the project, which is expected to take six to eight weeks. The northbound express lane will be closed intermittently on week days.

Installation of a second section, from mile marker 80 to mile marker 88, will begin as work on the northern section nears completion. That work will also require shoulder and intermittent lane closures. The barrier in both sections will be placed off-center on the northbound side of the median.

The speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph in the work zone and motorists are urged to use extra caution.

The $1.9 million contract, for installation of both sections, was awarded to George B. Stone Company, LLC, of Sharpsburg, Ky.

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The Courier-Journal recently reported that leaders from the two houses of the Kentucky legislature were divided on bills concerning funding the project to build two new bridges over the Ohio River at Louisville; additionally, federal transportation officials say that adding tolls to the bridge will cause an 18 month delay due to plans needing to be reviewed: Louisvlle Courier-Journal: Fate of bridges' funding bill is uncertain; tolls a hitch (March 26, 2009) 

Update (April 1, 2009): Louisville Courier-Journal: Kentucky inaction stalls Indiana bill on bridge projects; Oversight panels in states at issue (April 1, 2009) 

Beginning April 1, 2009 the Louisville-Jefferson County metro government will take over maintenance of state roads and state controlled traffic signals in Jefferson County. The state will pay the metro government for the maintenance expenses.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Louisville to maintain state roads; City will be paid millions a year; 66 jobs to be added (March 26, 2009) 

Now that I-65's Kennedy Bridge over the Ohio River has been repainted, an area underneath the bridge that had been used by the repainting contractors is being converted into a picnic area: Louisville Courier-Journal: Picnic area being built under Kennedy Bridge; Tables to offer 'killer view' (March 27, 2009) 

There will be lane closures on Lexington's New Circle Road this Wednesday to allow some potholes to be repaired: Lexington Herald-Leader: Pothole repair to close New Circle lanes (March 30, 2009) 

From KYTC Dept. of Highways District 10 (dated March 31, 2009):

JACKSON, Ky. – KY 1833 in Perry County is closed due to a rockslide. This closure will remain in effect until repairs are completed. An estimated time and date for completion of the removal of the slide is not yet known.

The location of the rockslide is near the entrance to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. Access to the park’s lodge will be impacted until the rockslide is removed.

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The US 421 bridge over the Ohio River at Milton in Trimble County has been placed off limits to trucks weighing more than 15 tons after a December inspection found "advanced deterioration on various components of the bridge."

More information: Associated Press: Bridge inspection leads to weight restriction (March 31, 2009 , Louisville Courier-Journal: 15-ton limit set on U.S. 421 bridge over Ohio River (April 1, 2009) 

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

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Dept. of Highways District 12:

What's with those pink flags?

HIGHWAY DISTRICT 12 – February 17 2009 – The pink flags you’ve seen on the shoulders of highways throughout Eastern Kentucky have nothing to do with road work.

They are pin flags which mark search locations for possible petroleum and natural gas.

Dawson Geophysical Company is surveying data in 109 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The process uses ATVs mounted with large pneumatic tires. The vehicles send high frequency vibrations into the ground, providing energy to create images of what lies underneath. In addition, geophone receivers are used to record data from other tracts of land within the survey. The technical name for what is being done is a vibroseis geophysical seismic survey.

Now you know.

A 1980 law ties a portion of Kentucky's gasoline tax to the average wholesale price of gasoline in the state. That price has dropped in recent months, and the gasoline tax is scheduled to drop 4 cents/gallon on April 1st; however, the state legislature is considering amending the law to prevent this drop. It is estimated that tax decrease would result in $120 million decline in gasoline tax revenue.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Gas tax cut looks unlikely (Feb. 19, 2009) , Louisville Courier-Journal: Lawmakers may block drop in gas tax (Feb. 19, 2009) 

A public meeting next Wednesday, Feb 18th for the West Market Street Corridor Improvement Study. The meeting will be at Shawnee High School at 5:30pm.

More information: West Market Street Meeting Flier, Project Web Site 

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) 

The Associated Press has a brief story about how the questions of where and how to pay for a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge still remain to be answered: Associated Press: Tolls, location problems in bridge planning (Feb. 9, 2009) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed improvements to KY 44 between US 31E and KY 1319 in Bullitt County. The meeting will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at Bullitt East High School.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Bullitt public meeting on Ky. 44 improvements is rescheduled (Feb. 9, 2009) 

The Indiana Department of Transportation will delay construction of two I-69 interchanges in Southern Indiana: Associated Press: Delay planned for I-69 interchanges in S. Indiana (Feb. 10, 2009) 

Indictments against former Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert and highway contractor Leonard Lawson have been revised. The indictments stem from payments Lawson allegedly made to Nighbert and Dept. of Highways District 7 Chief Engineer Jim Rummage in order to receive confidential information regarding open highway construction bids.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Highway bid-rig charges revised; Rejected indictment has been rephrased (Feb. 12, 2009) , Associated Press: 2 charges dismissed in bid-rigging case (Feb. 11, 2009 , Associated Press: New indictment issued in bid-rigging case (Feb. 11, 2009) 

From KYTC Department of Highways District 10:

Contractors for the KY 7 construction project between Jeff and Viper in Perry County plan to do some blasting today. At this time, blasts are scheduled for around 10 a.m. and also around noon. Motorists should be prepared for possible long delays during these times, for blasting and removal of debris. These delays may last in excess of the typical 20 or so minutes usually required, especially if debris cleanup from the existing highway becomes necessary. Motorists should plan their travels along KY 7 accordingly.

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) 

A committee in the Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill that would create a commission coordinate activities related to the construction of two new Interstate bridges over the Ohio River near Louisville and a new bridge to replace the US 421 bridge over the Ohio River between Milton, KY and Madison, IN.

More information: Associated Press: Commission proposed to focus on Ohio River bridges (Jan. 30, 2009) , Louisville Courier-Journal: Indiana panel may focus on Ohio River bridges (Jan. 30, 2009) 

Update Feb. 12, 2008: The bill has passed in the Indiana House: Louisville Courier-Journal: Ind. House passes bridge commission bill (Feb. 12, 2009) 

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. --- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled a Public Information Meeting for the Elrod Road and Natcher Parkway Interchange study to be held at the WKU L.D. Brown Ag Expo Center on Thursday, February 7 from 4 pm until 7 pm. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the issues and concerns with a new interchange connecting Elrod Road to the Natcher Parkway. At any time during the three-hour meeting, the public can view exhibits as well as speak with KYTC representatives about the project. A formal overview of the project information will be presented at 4:30 pm.

Anyone needing additional information about the February 7 public meeting should contact Keirsten Jaggers at the Department of Highways at 270-202-0446.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 in Bowling Green reports that a Traffic Blitz will take a place along the "US 31W Safety Corridor" from February 26 to March 4. A press conference concerning this event will take place at 8:00 AM Friday February 16 at Park City Fire Department along US 31W in Park City.

This morning at 7:35am the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 office in Bowling Green reported that I-65 northbound was completely blocked mile marker 19.5 due to an accident involving a tractor trailer. Motorists traveling on I-65 northbound should consider alternate routes. Exit 6 is the last exit from I-65 before the accident site.

Update: all lanes are now open to traffic

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The Louisville Metro Council is looking for something to name in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One idea currently being considered is endorsing a bill in the state legislature to name in I-65 in Jefferson County the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Highway: (Louisville) Courier-Journal: King naming ideas sought (Jan. 31, 2007) 

Section 2E.08  of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices states that freeways and expressways should not be signed as memorial highways so it is unclear what effect such a renaming would have.

J.M. “Mac” Yowell has recently accepted a management position with the City-County Planning Comission of Warren County. Mr. Yowell retired from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in December 2004 after twelve years as Kentucky’s chief state highway engineer: Bowling Green Daily News: Yowell has big plans for local roads (July 21, 2006) 

The number of designs for the two proposed bridges over the Ohio River at Louisville have been narrowed to three apiece: Courier-Journal: Bridge options unveiled (July 19, 2006) , Kentucky-Indiana Bridges: Downtown Bridge Design Alternatives , Kentucky-Indiana Bridges: East End Bridge Design Alternatives