From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 9:

Adopt-a-Highway groups poised to ‘summer scrub’ roadsides, help preserve scenic beauty of the commonwealth
Spring Clean Week in northeast Kentucky is June 6-12

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Volunteers will be out in force soon to “summer scrub” state highways throughout Kentucky. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has announced that the Adopt-a-Highway Summer Scrub Week will be held June 6-12.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

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Work has resumed on a project to restore the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County: Maysville Ledger Independent: Goddard Bridge restoration work resumes, project is on schedule (Feb. 20, 2006) 

In July, stonemasons began work to rebuild abutments for the Goddard Bridge. The covered bridge off KY 32 in Fleming County is undergoing a restoration project.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Stonemasons to converge for Goddard Bridge Project (July 14, 2005) 

Now that the future of the Goddard Bridge is more certain, the Buffalo Trace Covered Wooden Bridge Authority has shifted its focus to the region’s other covered bridge: Maysville Ledger-Independent: Covered bridge authority shifts focus beyond Goddard (June 28, 2005) 

Plans for restoring the covered Goddard Bridge in Fleming County were recently unveiled: Maysville Ledger-Independent: Goddard Bridge restoration plans unveiled at meeting (June 14, 2005) 

Work is progressing on a project to reconstruct KY 11 in Fleming County: Maysville Ledger Independent: First phase of Kentucky 11 work in Fleming County on schedule (May 26, 2005) 

The annual 400 Mile Sale stretching along US 68 from Maysville to Paducah will be held June 2-5: Maysville Ledger-Independent: A 400 mile opportunity: Yard sale is a big chance for buyers and sellers (May 1, 2005) , West Kentucky Corporation: 400 Mile Sale Across Kentucky , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: 400 Mile events listed along U.S. 68-80 (May 10, 2005) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that contractors have begun work on the Goddard Covered Bridge along KY 32 in Fleming County. The initial work will place cribbing under the bridge so it can be temporarily raised above its supports during restoration.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Help arrives for historic Goddard bridge (March 10, 2005) 

Work will begin Thursday to repair the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County. Originally, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet had planned to allow a contractor to remove the bridge and repair it offsite; however, local residents protested and the state agreed to require that all restoration work be performed onsite.

The bridge is believed to have been constructed in the 1820s, and was last restored in 1968.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Goddard Bridge renovation to begin March 10 (March 5, 2005) 

Higher temperatures during the day may have melted some of the ice and snow along Kentucky’s highways; however, falling temperatures during nights is causing some of it to refreeze. Refreezing made parts of the Western Kentucky Parkway and Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway impassible Christmas night: Associated Press: State asks drivers to avoid western Kentucky parkways (Dec. 26, 2004) , Associated Press: Motorist should use caution traveling (Dec. 26, 2004) 

Current information regarding highway conditions can be found at: www.511.ky.gov .

On Christmas Day, snow and ice remained in the travel lanes of I-65 in several places. In the Louisville area, a number of abandoned vehicles remained along the shoulders and, in some cases, the travel lanes of I-65 and the Watterson Expressway. Secondary routes in both Warren and Jefferson County were still snow and ice covered; as were many of the ramps entering and leaving I-65.

Cleanup continued through Friday on I-24: Associated Press: Kentuckians continue to dig out of holiday snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Kentuckians continue to dig out of snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: State making progress on western Kentucky roads (Dec. 25, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Some still without power, roads cleared (Dec. 25, 2004) 

The Maysville area recovered quickly from the storm: Maysville Ledger Independent: White Christmas more shiny than fluffy; road crews scramble (Dec. 24, 2004) 

Several accidents were reported on I-71 near mile marker 58 in Gallatin County: Associated Press: Cold keeps its hold on state (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Improving conditions allowed shoppers to return the stores on Christmas Eve in Owensboro: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Shoppers are back on track; Improving road conditions send residents heading to stores (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Summary of snow response in Henderson County: The Henderson Gleaner: Most crews stay busy helping folks, clearing roadways (Dec. 25, 2004) 

Problems continued on I-64 and I-65 in Indiana through Friday: The Jeffersonville (Ind.) Evening News: Snow freezes region; state of emergency declared (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Some Roads Reopening After Record Snow (Dec. 24, 2004) , Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press: A long stranded trip (Dec. 24, 2004) , New Albany (Ind.) Tribune: City struggles to keep streets clear as snow piles up (Dec. 24, 2004) , Associated Press: Interstates reopen to travelers in Midwest (Dec. 25, 2004) , Evansville Courier & Press: Snow gives travelers tales to tell (Dec. 25, 2004) , Associated Press: Some Indiana highways remained slick but passable after snow (Dec. 25, 2004) , Associated Press: Indiana highways slick but passable (Dec. 26, 2004) 

Paducah area information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: UPDATE: Major Roads Now Open (Dec. 24, 2004) 

More information: Associated Press: Warmth aids road crews (Dec. 25, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning has recently released the Final Report of the Pre-Design Scoping study for improvements to the Kentucky 69 approach to the Bob Cummings Bridge in Hawesville: more information 

Additionally, materials involving a study of a proposed route between US 68 and Tollesboro in Fleming, Mason, and Lewis County: more information 

Information regarding alternatives for a new connector route between Harlan and Hazard has also been posted: more information 

A public meeting to discuss renovations to Fleming County’s Goddard Covered Bridge was to be held today: Maysville Ledger Independent: Meeting for Goddard Renovations Tuesday (Oct. 18, 2004) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Meeting outlines giving Goddard Bridge facelift it deserves (Oct. 27, 2004) 

• October 26: Public meeting to discuss the replacement of the KY 2448 crossing of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. (6PM-8PM at the Hazard City Hall) [more information ]
  
  
• November 4: Public hearing to discuss the reconstruction of KY 52 in Garrard and Madison counties. (5PM-8PM at Paint Lick Elementary School) [more information ]
  
  
• November 9: Public meeting to discuss alternatives for a proposed route between the AA Highway at Tollesboro and US 68 at Fairview. (5PM-7PM in the Fleming RECC Meeting Room in Flemingsburg) [more information ]
  
  
• November 29, 30: Public meeting to discuss construction of the new Interstate 66 between Somerset and London. (Nov. 29 5PM-8PM at London Community Center and Nov. 30 5PM-8PM at The Center for Rural Development in Somereset) [more information ]

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) 

US 68 and KY 80 played host a 400 mile long yard sale the first weekend of June: Bowling Green Daily News: 400-mile yard sale kicks off on 68-80 (June 3, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: The 400-mile sale (June 4, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Buyers crossing nation for statewide sale (June 5, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Festival gives Smiths Grove chance to relax, sell goods (June 6, 2004) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County is under contract to be renovated; however, the renovations will not begin until public meetings can be held to discuss the project. These meetings are not likely to be held for another two months.

The bridge has been the focus of attention since plans to remove the bridge for renovation were met with anger from local residents at a public meeting in 2003. The transportation cabinet has since asked the project contractor to revise their plans so the bridge can be repaired onsite. Outrage over the plans to remove the bridge led to the enactment of new legislation governing how the state’s covered bridges are to be managed.

Historically, the area around the bridge has been home to the Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival; however, this year the festival has been forced to move because an agreement to use the land near the bridge could not be secured.

More information: (Maysville) Ledger Independent: Limelight Once Again Focuses on Goddard Bridge (June 2, 2004) 

The US 68 Yard Sale is underway today through Sunday in the 24 counties along the path of US 68 in Kentucky: more information .

The Buffalo Trade Area Development District has recently developed a list of top ten highway projects they would like to see added the Six Year Highway plan. The list includes widening several sections of KY 9, KY 10, and the AA Highway and reconstruction of several other area routes.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Area Officials Hope to ‘Make the List’ for Road Projects (March 19, 2004) 

For the past six years, the Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival has been held in a field near the Goddard Covered Bridge; however, the owner of the field has denied the festival permission to use the field this year. The Goddard Covered Bridge which is off of KY 32 in Fleming County is the last covered bridge in Kentucky that is still open to traffic.

More information: Maysville Ledger Independent: Fleming County Covered Bridge Festival Evicted (March 18, 2004) 

This summer will see an event known as “400 Miles of Antiques, Collectibles & Stuff” along nearly 400-miles of US 68 Kentucky. The event will be held June 3-6 and involve events along in 24 counties along US 68’s route.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: 400 miles of opportunity -- June event will bring thousands of visitors, dollars to Central Kentucky (March 14, 2004) 

Intech Contracting has been asked to devise a new plan for restoring the Goddard covered bridge in Fleming County or quit the job. Originally, Intech had planned to disassemble the bridge and restore it at a workshop in Lancaster; however, local opposition has lead the transportation cabinet to ask Intech to complete the bridge restoration on site.

More information: Associated Press: Bridge contractor asked to cancel or come up with new plan (October 30, 2003) , Associated Press: Restorers asked to re-think Fleming Bridge (October 30, 2003) 

Work to restore the Goddard White Covered Bridge near Flemingsburg will be completed on site. Originally the transportation cabinet had planned to dismantle the bridge, complete the renovation work off site, and then place the bridge back in its original location; however, out-of-state covered bridges experts who recently inspected the bridge believe it would be more economical to complete the repairs on site. This report and pressure from the public has lead the transportation cabinet to agree that that the bridge should not be dismantled.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: On-site renovation may be option (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Experts: Dismantling Goddard Bridge unnecessary for restoration (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Specialists inspect covered bridges in Buffalo Trace area (Aug. 19, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: Covered bridges celebrated in Fleming (Aug. 25, 2003) , Maysville Ledger Independent: The people have spoken - Renovation plans altered on Goddard Bridge project (Aug. 29, 2003) 

The Maysville Ledger Independent reports that discussion of the Goddard Covered Bridge dominate the first meeting of the newly recreated Buffalo Trace Covered Bridge Authority. The Goddard Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled for restoration following the August 23 Covered Bridge Festival. Initially the transportation cabinet had hoped to replace only 30 percent of the bridge's timbers; however, the bridge authority believes that up to 90 percent of the bridge will need to be replaced. Interim chair Steve Donovan says that the authority hopes to find a way to preserve the historical integrity of the area's covered bridges.

More information: Maysville Ledge Independent: Covered bridge group looks past statute to set standard (Aug. 8, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released the final report for the conceptual feasibility study for the Northern Kentucky Outer Loop, and the finding is that such an outer loop is not feasible.

The proposed route would connect with I-74 in Indiana, pass into Kentucky at the Markland Dam in Gallatin County, travel east-west across Kentucky, cross the Ohio River into Ohio at the William H. Harsha bridge near Maysville, and connect with a proposed extension of I-74 in Ohio. A two-year long study of this route found that the entire route would not be financially feasible in Kentucky; however, the study found that several segments of the route would have an independent of utility. The study divided the route into six sections and assigned them the following priorities:

1. US 127 to I-75 - 15.1 miles (Owen and Grant Counties)
2. I-71 to US 127 - 6.8 miles (Gallatin/Carroll and Owen Counties)
3. I-75 to US 27 - 17.6 miles (Grant and Pendleton Counties)
4. US 27 to KY 9 - 29 miles (Pendleton, Bracken, and Mason Counties)
5. Indiana to I-71 - 7 miles (Carroll/Gallatin Counties)
6. KY 9 to Ohio - 2.9 miles (Mason County)

The study found that construction of a proposed highway (Indiana State Road 101) from I-74 in Indiana to the Markland Dam would improve the usability of the Indiana to I-71 segment of the Outer Loop.

The release of the report does not guarantee that anything will be built. Construction is dependent on future funding.

More information: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning: Proposed Interstate 74 

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An advertisement promoting Northern Kentucky's covered bridges apparently shows a New Hampshire covered bridge.

More information: Associated Press: Kentucky ad may show N.H. covered bridge (Mar. 27, 2003) , Associated Press: Oops! Kentucky tourism ad features New Hampshire bridge (Mar. 28, 2003)