Kentucky Turnpike

The Kentucky Turnpike was a thirty-nine mile highway between Elizabethtown and the Watterson Expressway. Ground was broken on the turnpike on July 25, 1954 and it opened to traffic on August 1, 1956. The turnpike was financed with bonds, and the bonds were repaid through tolls. Tolls were lifted on June 30, 1975—nineteen years ahead of schedule. In 1975, the turnpike became part of Interstate 65 which already connected to the northern and southern termini of the highway.