From Kentucky Transporation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 (Sept. 14, 2012):

District 3 Traffic Impact Report

 KYTC District 3:  Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd and Warren Counties

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 on June 14, 2010:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Department of Highways District 3 Office advises motorists to be aware of crews working adjacent to KY 101 in Edmonson County.

Motorists should use caution while traveling along KY 101 from the Warren County line to Beaver Dam Chapel Road all this week.

Crews will work from 6:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and double fine signs have been posted.

Several studies are underway to determine how to improve the Green River Ferry crossing in Mammoth Cave National Park. The options being considered are improving the current ferry or replacing the ferry with a low water bridge or a high bridge crossing.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Mussel study a factor in river crossing issue (Aug. 14, 2009) , U.S. National Park Service: Mammoth Cave National Park - Ferries 

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) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting on Feb. 21 to discuss the reconstruction of KY 101 in the vicinity of Chalybeate.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a four year study of the unused locks and dams on the Green and Barren Rivers, and they have suggested removing Lock and Dam Number 6 in Edmonson County. Some area residents fear the removal of this dam will inhibit the continued operation of Houchens Ferry and Mammoth Cave Ferry–both of which cross the Green River in the pool formed by the dam.

More information: WBKO 13: Green River Lock and Dam No, 6 (June 22, 2005) 

A preferred alternative has been chosen for the proposed reconstruction of KY 259 from the Green River to Kyrock in Edmonson County.

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Work to widen US 68/KY 80 beginning at the intersection with US 31W north of Bowling Green is being done on an accelerated basis and being paid for with discretionary funds. The $2.5 million project is likely a prelude to the construction of a new interchange with I-65 to serve the new Kentucky TriModal Transpark. Completion of the widening is scheduled for May 15.

Work is also planned to begin soon to reconstruct KY 101 near the Warren County-Edmonson County line.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Traffic changes being planned (Feb. 7, 2005) , WBKO: U.S.68 SAFETY PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING (FEB. 7, 2005) 

The Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Highways District 3 have released the results Traffic Safety Awareness Campaign that was conducted along US 31W in South-Central Kentucky from December 6 to December 12. The so-called safety blitz resulted in 871 traffic citations and hundreds of written warnings: Barren River Area Development District/Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3: Traffic Safety Blitz Helps to Curb Holiday Rush and Improve Safety Along US 31W Corridor (Dec. 22, 2004), Bowling Green Daily News: 31-W blitz successful (Dec. 27, 2004) 

State and local police held a “traffic blitz” along US 31W in the hopes of improving traffic safety: Glasgow Daily Times: Holiday traffic initiative would curb fatalities along 31-W (Dec. 11, 2004) 

The Bowling Green Daily News looks at the ferries operating on the Green River: Bowling Green Daily News: Crossing the waters (Dec. 1, 2004) 

I recently posted photographs from a trip across the Green River ferry at Rochester in Butler County: Rochester Ferry.

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) 

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

As part of a continuing project to recognize the birthplaces of Kentucky’s musicians signs have recently been erected honoring Ray Goins  and Curley Ray Cline . (Update (Apr. 24): WKYT: Bluegrass Fiddler Honored (Apr. 23, 2004) )

A ceremony has held recently to dedicate the Helen Brown Bridge . Helen Brown was influential in having the Pikeville area bridge built.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports on road projects planned for Warren and surrounding counties: Bowling Green Daily News: Transportation budget on track (April 5, 2004) 

Environmental groups oppose the Louisville Bridges Project, I-66, and other expedited projects: Courier-Journal: Environmental groups critical of bridges project (Apr. 9, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reminds motorists to brake for construction workers .

Kentucky’s State Highway Engineer, James M. “Mac” Yowell, has been inducted to the University of Kentucky’s Engineering Hall of Distinction.

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey told state legislators on Wednesday that no projects were cut from this year's version of the Six Year Highway plan; however, some projects have delayed due to the states budget problems.

The list of projects is too long to list here; however, some notable projects are listed below.

• $118 million for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project. Some of this money will be raised by selling bonds that would be repaid when promised federal funding is allocated for the project.
• $78 million for reconstruction of the Owensboro bypass to the east of its current alignment. This is meant to improve access to the William H. Natcher Bridge.
• Widening of I-64 from Louisville to Shelbyville.
• Widening of I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Bowling Green.
• Widening of I-75 in Scott and Grant counties.
• Southern extensions of both the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parwkay.

A notable absence from the list is funding for replacing the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River; however, the project remains on the unscheduled needs list and officials claim that it is still a priority. Construction on the project is still over a decade away.

This year the transportation cabinet has split the list into projects that will receive federal funding and projects that will not receive federal funding. Projects that will be funded only by the state are expected to be delayed and will be prioritized by need.

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Despite state budget problems, three road projects are still on track for construction this year. Paving and guardrail installation will be completed on about five miles of the US 231 reconstruction project in eastern Allen County, reconstruction of KY 101 between Chalybeate and US 31W will begin, and a bridge over Little Reedy Creek on KY 70 in Butler County will be replaced.

Kentucky receives about $500 million in federal funds for road projects each year; however, the state must provide matching funds for 20% of construction costs. These funds have been drained in recent years.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Work on three roads beginning; others in limbo (Jan. 18, 2004) 

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

• Bridges of the Ohio River - Several of Kentucky's 40 bridges across the Ohio River.
• William H. Harsha Bridge Photographs - Photographs of Kentucky's first cable stayed bridge: the William H. Harsha bridge near Maysville.
• I-64 - Sherman Minton Bridge - The I-64 and US 150 bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville.
• Shortway Bridge - The Old KY 1120 bridge over the Licking River between Kenton and Campbell Counties.
• I-65 - John F. Kennedy Bridge - The I-65 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• US 31 - George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge) - The US 31 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• I-65 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 30 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the new section of KY 30 under construction in Laurel County.
• I-65 Warren County Construction - June 29, 2001
• I-65 Warren County Construction - May 22, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - August 15, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - July 5, 2003
• I-75 - Miscellaneous Images - Includes photographs of I-75 widening projects south of Lexington.
• William H. Natcher Bridge - October 26, 2002
• William H. Natcher Bridge - February 8, 2003
• Louisville - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 3 and KY 645 - Inez - January 3, 2003
• AA Highway - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 67 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 80 - Miscellaneous Images - Along KY 80 in Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
• KY 101 and KY 259 - Edmonson County - November 18, 2001 - A new section of KY 259 and KY 101 under construction in Edmonson County.
• US 23 - Miscellaneous Images
• US 60 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the Cumberland and Tennessee River bridges.

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

A run down of Warren County area road projects:

• I-65 construction between Bowling Green and Smiths Grove is complete. A few miles of the interstate near the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway are now under construction. This is part of a project to widen I-65 to six lanes from the Tennessee state line to Elizabethtown.
• The new intersection between I-65 and Cemetery Road (KY 234) is complete and open. It is now Exit 26 on I-65.
• Work to widen US 231 between Bowling Green and Alvaton is complete. Work has now started on the US 231 project to the south and east of Alvaton. US 231 is being widened to four lanes from Bowling Green to Scottsville.
• The City of Bowling Green and Warren County are funding work to rebuild and widen Cave Mill Road from Scottsvile Road (US 231) to Dishman Lane.
• The Natcher Parkway extension from I-65 to US 231 east of Bowling Green is still planned; however, there is currently no funding for the project.
• The planning process for I-66 and the Bowling Green Beltline project continues.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Road improvements (Jan. 31, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Public will get view of plans for two roads (Feb. 6, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Road construction in area makes for dangerous driving (April 10, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: End in sight for construction on U.S. 231 (April 14, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Tolls to be halted on two roads (May 31, 2001) , Bowling Green Daily News: Work starts on another section of Cave Mill (June 30, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Road paving will take place at night (July 12, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: ITA presents virtual transpark model (July 17, 2003) 

The federal budget for 2002 includes money for several road projects in Kentucky. These projects include:

• Planning for widening KY 101 in Edmonson County
• Planning for the construction of an interchange with I-65 for the Kentucky Trimodal Transpark in Warren County
• Right-of-way acquasiation and utility relocation for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project
• Bridge rennovation in Lincoln County
• Construction of a sound barrier on I-75 in Fayette County
• Widening of I-75 to six lanes in Rockcastle County
• Construction of the I-66 Northern By-pass of Somerset
• Bridge replacement on Monticello Street in Somerset

More information: Daily News: Region lands more than $13 million in funds (Feb. 15, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Budget funds projects in area (Feb. 15, 2003) , Herald-Leader: Kentucky projects in federal budget bill (Feb. 15, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has narrowed the list of possible routes for Interstate 66 and the Bowling Green Outer Beltline. The public is being given the chance to review the list of possible routes in a series of public meetings in the greater Bowling Green area. The KYTC has posted maps and other information about the proposed routes here .

More information: Daily News: Public will get view of plans for two roads (Feb. 6, 2003) , Daily News: Revised I-66 routes unveiled (Feb. 12, 2003) , KYTC Planning Project: Proposed Interstate 66 & Bowling Green Outer Beltline 

Research conducted by the University of Kentucky has determined that experimental tourism signs installed along I-65 in Southcentral Kentucky were successful in attracting tourists. The study concludes that expanding the program is warranted.

Brown signs showing the distance to several attractions in Warren County and Edmonson County were installed along I-65. Signs were also installed for the Kentucky Speedway on I-71 and for Patti's 1880's Settlement on I-24.

Before the sign program can be expanded, the signs must approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

More information: Daily News: Survey shows that tourism signs are successful (Feb. 3, 2003) , Daily News: All state sites would benefit from signs (Editorial, Feb. 4, 2003) 

Update June 1, 2004: These signs are officially known as "Post-Interchange Guide Signs." The Kentucky Transportation Center has produced this 41-page report on The Evaluation of Post-Interchange Guide Signs .

The Bowling Green Daily News reports that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be holding public meetings in February to discuss possible routings for I-66 in Barren County, Edmonson County, and Warren County.

More information: Daily News: Community meetings will further discuss proposals for I-66 routes (Dec. 31, 2002) 

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted preliminary information concerning public meetings  about I-66 in Warren County and Edmonson County.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has posted a few new maps of preliminary study corridors for I-66 in western Kentucky.

Ballard and McCracken Counties

• Preliminary Corridors 
• More Information 

Warren and Edmonson Counties

• Bowling Green Beltline Corridors 
• I-66 Corridors 
• More Information 

Ballard County and McCracken County

Three possible routes for I-66 in Ballard County and McCracken County were revealed at a meeting in LaCenter on Tuesday:

• One route begins at Old Mayfield Road and I-24 in McCracken County and passes through the southern park of McCracken and Ballard Counties before crossing the Mississippi River at Wickliffe.
• Another route generally follows US 62 and KY 286 from Paducah to a new Mississippi River crossing at Wickliffe.
• A third route would follow I-24 into Illinois and construct a new route to Cape Girardeau, MO. Illinois officials are not participating in the study because of issues with building a route through the Shawnee National Forest.

The engineering firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas is conducting the study along with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Another meeting is expected to be held later this year.

More information: Courier-Journal: Public input sought on possible I-66 routes in Western Kentucky (Aug. 22, 2002) 

Warren County and Edmonson County

The Glasgow Daily Times reports that I-66 public meeting in Warren County and Edmonson County were well attended. They report that the engineering firm of Bernard, Lochmueller and Associates, Inc. is working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to provide alternatives for routes the proposed I-66 between the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parkway. Parties interested in viewing information from the public meetings should contact Keirsten Jaggers or Jeff Moore at the KYTC office in Bowling Green. The phone number is (270) 746-7898.

More information: Glasgow Daily Times: I-66 meeting well attended (Aug. 22, 2002) , Glasgow Daily Times: I-66 public meeting draws large crowd (Aug. 16, 2002) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released information pertaining to public meeting concerning I-66 in the Bowling Green area:

• Aug. 15 Meeting  - 10 am-7 pm CDT / Brownsville Community Center / 108 N. Main St. / Brownsville, KY
• Aug. 14 Meeting  - 10 am-7 pm CDT / Bowling Green Public Library - Depot Br. / 401 Kentucky St. / Bowling Green, KY

The information includes an overview of the project  (PDF format) and map of conceptual corridors  (PDF format).

The Sierra Club has posted incorrect information about I-66  on their website as part of a report against urban sprawl. The group claims that I-66 would "cut through Mammoth Cave National Park." This statement is incorrect. Though a final path for I-66 in the Warren County has yet to have been chosen, a preliminary map  is available. Though the park is not shown on this map, the park is entirely to the north of KY 259 and US 31W which are shown on the map. None of the preliminary routes are north of these roads.

The West Kentucky Corporation  has a section with preliminary maps for I-66 and the Bowling Green Outer Beltline in Warren County .

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled several planning meetings:

• July 30 - New Elizabethtown-Radcliff Connector 
• July 30 - Reconstruction of KY 536 in Boone County 
• Aug. 8 - I-66 Somerset Northern By-Pass 
• Aug. 13 - Widening US 641 in Calloway County 
• Aug. 14/15 - I-66 Meetings in Warren and Edmonson Counties 
• Aug. 15 - Reconstruction of I-64 and US 60 Interchanges on I-265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) 
• Aug. 20 - I-66 in Ballard and McCracken Counties 
• Aug. 20 - Extension of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway Extension to I-24 in Christian County 

The Bowling Green Daily News reports that I-66 may use part of I-65 in Warren County to make the connection between the Cumberland Parkway and Natcher Parkway in Warren County. More Information 

Also, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold two public meetings to discuss I-66 in the Warren County area. One meeting will be held on August 14 in Bowling Green, and another will be held the following day in Brownsville. More Information 

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, plans to widen three highways in Mammoth Cave National Park must be approved by 30 regulators. The planning process takes four to five years. The projects will reconstruct park routes 10 and 15 and widen park route 110 to the Maple Springs Research Center.

More information: National Park Service: Draft Environment Assessment -- Reconstruct Routes 10, 15, and 110 , Daily News: Roads go through miles of red tape (June 29, 2002) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's I-66 web sites have been updated. Information from planning projects in Ballard, Edmonson, Marshall, McCracken, and Warren county can be found here . The Official Interstate 66  website has been updated with information about the Ballard and McCracken segment  and Pulaski and Laurel segment .

A new vicinity map  of the Pike/Mingo segment has been added. Also, the Phase 1 Archeological Survey for Pike/Mingo segment  has begun.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has posted updated materials from Bowling Green area I-66 public meetings on its website .

The KYTC held the first of two I-66 public meetings in South Central Kentucky on Monday. This meeting was held in Brownsville. Area residents expressed their desire for the route to pass through Edmonson County. They feel that their county has suffered financially since it was bypassed by I-65, the Natcher Parkway, and the Western Kentucky Parkway.

Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Bowling Green. More information can be found on the KYTC website .

More information: Daily News: I-66 routes studied 

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Mar. 3, 2002 article  that the Barren River Area Development Highway Safety Committee, a group composed of area elected officials and highway officials, is proposing education, engineering, enforcement, emergency services and enactment to change hazards they see on Kentucky roads. There have been nearly 200 deaths on roads in the Barren River area since 1997. Greg Meredith, from the Department of Highways, says that some of the improvements are more attainable than others, but that state budget constraints make it unlikely that many of the improvements can be implemented. On proposal, the construction of a barrier in the middle of I-65, is already part of the I-65 widening project.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Feb. 13, 2002 article  that the state is studying the construction of a Bowling Green loop road as part of the Interstate 66 project. The road would connect I-66 to the Natcher Parkway north of Bowling Green. The road was originally proposed in 1972. The current study is expected to be completed in 2003 and any construction is still over ten years away.

Updated Mar-02: Glasgow Daily Times article .

The KYTC will be holding public meetings to discuss the proposed Bowling Green Beltline highway and the location of I-66 between the Natcher Parkway and the Cumberland Parkway. More information can be found here .

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Feb. 3, 2002 article  that public meeting will be held in March to discuss possible routes for I-66 between the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway and the Natcher Parkway. The Daily News reports that this project will likely be combined with an effort to build a beltway road north of Bowling Green.

According to this June 18, 2001 article  from the Bowling Green Daily News the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has considered reconstructing KY 259 from the current I-65 and Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway to the intersection of KY 259 and KY 101 near Brownsville. A public meeting on this issue was held in July of 2001. An early report on the proposal can be found here . This project is in the same area as the proposed I-66.

This Daily News article  reports that Bowling Green area residents mostly support I-66; however, there remains some concern about damage to the environment and farmland. Among the environmental concerns was the impact this road might have on the area's cave system. State officials expect that I-66 will make use of existing parkways in the region, and a new portion will be part of an outer loop around Bowling Green.

The Daily News reports in this article  that a new section of KY 101 and KY 259 will open this Tuesday, November 27. The 3.9 mile section of road connects Brownsville and Rhoda.

The KYTC has postponed two I-66 public meetings  (no longer online; see here  for more recent information) that were scheduled for October 16 and October 18. No information on why or when the meetings will be held.

The KYTC has released materials from an upcoming public meeting  regarding the proposed I-66 between Interstate 65 and the William H. Natcher Parkway. The meetings will be held in Bowling Green on October 16 and Brownsville on October 18.

The KYTC has posted materials from an August 30, 2001 meeting regarding I-66 between I-65 and the Natcher Parkway here .

In addition the KYTC planning web site has new dedicated to I-66. Here is a list of links to I-66 information on the KYTC website:

• Interstate 66 - Division of Planning  - Contains links to materials from I-66 public meetings.
• Interstate 66 - Somerset to London  - A complete report detailing the proposed route from Somerset to London. This would connect the Nunn Parkway to the Daniel Boone Parkway.
• Interstate66.com  - Contains information about Interstate 66 in Pike County, Kentucky and Mingo County, West Virginia.

The Daily News (Bowling Green) reports in this July 12, 2001 article  that a study has begun to designate a route for Interstate 66 between the Louie B. Nunn (Cumberland) Parkway and William H. Natcher Parkway. This route would be in the area of Warren, Edmonson, and Butler counties. The article also discusses the status of other parts of the I-66 project.