The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has posted a status report for the Mountain Parkway Expansion project . This week's report covers work in and around Saylersville.

The August 11 report  from the Transportation Cabinet discusses the selected alternative for the widening of the Mountain Parkway in Wolfe County.

From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 10 (Aug. 28, 2015):

Public meeting on new route for KY 30 in Owsley County draws 100 attendees

JACKSON, KY – Approximately 100 people attended a public meeting Thursday, Aug. 27, to discuss the proposed relocation of KY 30 in Owsley and Jackson counties. The meeting was conducted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways District 10.

Attendees viewed a presentation by District 10 personnel and consultants. They provided comments on the project, asked several questions and viewed maps of the area showing the general scope of the proposed project. They were also provided comment forms on which they could express their opinions on the project.

A project is under development to relocate KY 30 between the US 421 intersection at Tyner in Jackson County and Travellers Rest in Owsley County. Two new-terrain corridors are under consideration. Both would begin at the intersection of US 421 and the new segment of KY 30 that was opened to traffic last year. One corridor would cross existing KY 30 near Elias in Jackson County and run to the northwest of the existing route to Travellers Rest. The other would cross existing KY 30 in Owsley County, approximately 1.5 miles from the Jackson County line, then run northwest of the existing route along a new alignment to Travellers Rest.

Both corridors will use the new bridge currently under construction at Travellers Rest, and will tie into the separate project to realign KY 30 between Travellers Rest and Levi. A contract is scheduled to be awarded for construction of that segment later this year.

The proposed road would have two 11-foot driving lanes. Truck climbing lanes on hills are under consideration. It would also feature paved shoulders, turning lanes at major intersections and a 30-foot clear zone adjacent to the highway.

When combined with the segment already completed in Jackson and Laurel counties and the portion in Owsley County to be awarded later this year, the new road will reduce travel time from the Beattyville/Booneville area to I-75 at London from around one hour to approximately 40 minutes. The entire corridor will provide improved safety and mobility for drivers who use it.

This project is included in the 2014-2020 Kentucky Highway Plan, approved last year by the General Assembly.

The project manager will receive written comments on the project through Sept. 15. Photographs and plans displayed at the public hearing may be viewed at the Department of Highways District 10 office, 473 Highway 15 South, Jackson, during the comment period. Comments on the project may be addressed to: Darren Back, P.E., project manager; Kentucky Department of Highways, P.O. Box 621, Jackson, KY 41339.

A similar meeting is scheduled for Jackson County on Tuesday, Sept. 1. It will be held at Tyner Elementary School.

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.

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

The transportation cabinet’s division of planning has recently released information regarding KY 30 on Jackson and Owsley Counties  and US 41A in Hopkins County .

A newly reconstructed section of KY 30 has opened in Laurel County. The new stretch of highway connects with old KY 30 near KY 1227 to the Hal Rogers/Daniel Boone Parkway north of London.

More information: KYTC Press Release: New Section of KY 30 Now Open To Traffic (October 31, 2003) 

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.

The KYTC has released additional information  from public meetings about upgrading KY 30 near Tyner and Booneville. This information includes two questionnaires and a link to the scoping study.

The KYTC has released materials from two upcoming public meetings  regarding reconstruction of KY 30 in Owsley and Jackson Counties. The meetings will be held on October 4 in Tyner and October 9 in Booneville.