The 60-day regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly ended on April 13. Thirteen bills relating to transportation were passed into law during the 2004 regular session. Click “read full text” below for summaries of each bill.

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The full House of the state legislature will now consider a bill to rename KY 54 in Daviess County after David "Paulie" Nash. Private First Class Nash of Whitesville was killed when he threw himself on a grenade during the Vietnam War. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Nixon administration.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Nash highway resolution passes unanimously (Feb. 6, 2004) 

Update (Feb. 8, 2004): More information: Associated Press: Veterans seek to have Kentucky highway named after Medal of Honor winner (Feb. 7, 2004) 

A project to repave a short section KY 54 near the Owensboro US 60 By-pass has begun and is expected to last until mid-August. Though the stretch of highway is only eleven years old, the pavement has become deeply rutted; this project's aim is to correct that problem.

Other Daviess County projects include work to improve drainage on the William H. Natcher Parkway and pavement rehabilitation on US 60 east of Owensboro in Daviess and Hancock Counties.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: Kentucky 54 resurfacing under way (July 24, 2003)  (free registration required; includes photograph of construction work)

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has recommended a route for an eastern extension of the Wendell H. Ford Expressway US 60 By-pass in Owensboro. The 4.5-mile recommended route begins north of Kentucky 54 on the current US 60 By-pass and connects to US 60/US 231 east of KY 144. The extension is intended to relieve congestion along US 60/US 231 east of Owensboro. Traffic on the current route is expected to increase now that US 231 has been rerouted as part of the approach to the Natcher Bridge.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: State makes recommendation for $53 million bypass extension (10/25/2002) 

A selection of a route for the proposed extension to the Owensboro by-pass will be announced in about two months, according to the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. When the preferred route is announced in October, the public will have 15 days to submit comments on the route. If the plans are finally approved, right-of-way acquisition could begin in 2003 with utility relocation in 2004 and construction in 2005.

The extension of the by-pass is expected to connect with the current by-pass near the Kentucky 54 interchange and connect with US 60 east of the US 60/KY 144 interchange.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: Bypass extension route selection near (Aug. 25, 2002)  (free registration required)