From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 4:

State to hold public meetings, seek ideas for KY 88 improvements

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (June 3, 2010) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled two public meetings June 14 to seek ideas about improving KY 88 in Hart County.

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During a recent visit to Louisvlle, Gov. Steve Beshear updated the status of a number of road projects in the area. These include:

• The construction of an interchange between KY 1447 Westport Road and I-264 Watterson Expressway.
• Widening of I-64 from I-265 Gene Snyder Freeway to Exit 28 in Shelby County.
• Median cable barrier installation along I-65.
• Reconstruction of a ramp at the interchange between I-64 and I-264 Shawnee Expressway west of downtown.
• Pavement repairs along various stretches of interstate.

More information: Louisville Courier-Journal: Beshear recaps road projects in Louisville area; $200M in work started or planned (Sept. 18, 2009) 

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3:

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

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (July 14, 2009) — Work to rehabilitate two sets of twin bridges – over Green River and US 31W – continues along Interstate 65 in Hart County.

• Northbound I-65 - Traffic will be pushed down to one lane and motorists can expect long delays while work is done on the northbound bridge over US 31W at mile marker 64. This work will continue around the clock until Thursday, July 16.

• Southbound I-65 - Traffic will be pushed down to one lane and motorists can expect long delays while work is done on the southbound bridge over the Green River at mile marker 61. This work will continue around the clock until Friday, July 24.

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

Motorists are asked to use extra caution and may wish to seek alternate routes during this time (US 31W/US 31E).

Travelers can log on to the 511 system at www.511.ky.gov . for additional information about roadway conditions.

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) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed chief highway engineers for nine of the Division of Highways' twelve districts.

• Edward “Ted” Merryman has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 1 and 2. Previously, Merryman was chief highway engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Greg Meredith has been reappointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Gary M. Raymer, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 4. [more information ]
• David Jones, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 6. [more information ]
• Jim Rummage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 7. [more information ]
• Katrina O. Bradley, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 9. [more information ]
• Samuel H. Beverage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 10 and 11. [ more information ]

More information: WKYT: Gov. Fletcher Hires New Highway Engineers (June 29, 2004) , Associated Press: Fletcher appoints top highway engineers (June 30, 2004) , Hardin County News-Enterprise: Highway engineer appointed in E'town (June 30, 2004) , Maysville Ledger-Independent: New KTC Engineer Sees District as Unique (July 2, 2004) 

• Heartland Parkway  in Central Kentucky. (more information )
• KY 44  in Bullitt County.
• KY 88  in Hart and Grayson Counties.

When the 2004 Recommended Six-Year Highway Plan was released Transportation Cabinet Secretary Maxwell Clay Bailey assured legislators that no projects had been removed the 2002 Six-Year Plan; however, the Courier-Journal has found that fifteen projects scheduled under the 2002 plan were moved to the unscheduled needs list in the new 2004 plan.

More information: Courier-Journal: 15 projects cut from road plan (March 3, 2004) , WKYT: 15 Kentucky Road Projects Cut Due To Budget Crisis (March 4, 2004) , Hardin County News Enterprise: State drops I-65 widening (March 5, 2004) 

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be closing several rest areas and opening a few new ones over the next few years. Two rest areas on I-64 in Shelby County, three rest areas on I-65 in Warren County and Hart County, and two rest areas on I-75 in Madison County will soon be or have already been closed; however, Kentucky is planning to build two new rest areas on I-65 in Hart County, and a one large rest area to serve both northbound and southbound traffic will be built on I-75 in Madison County. The new Madison County rest area will have parking for 400 cars, 100 trucks, and 13 oversized vehicles.

More information: Courier-Journal: Kentucky will spend millions to open new rest stops (Aug. 31, 2002) 

The article also briefly mentions the rest area on the Mountain Parkway and the service area on the Western Kentucky Parkway.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this article  that three rest areas on I-65 will be closed: two in Warren County and a third in Hart County. The rest areas are being demolished because they are unable to handle current traffic on I-65. The stretch of road handles between 35,000 and 45,000 vehicles per day. Around 50% of this traffic is truck traffic, and the rest areas do not have adequate parking for trucks.

Update Feb. 10: This Glasgow Daily Times article  discusses the rest area work as well.