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 KYTC Department of Highways District 10:

Contractors for the KY 7 construction project between Jeff and Viper in Perry County plan to do some blasting today. At this time, blasts are scheduled for around 10 a.m. and also around noon. Motorists should be prepared for possible long delays during these times, for blasting and removal of debris. These delays may last in excess of the typical 20 or so minutes usually required, especially if debris cleanup from the existing highway becomes necessary. Motorists should plan their travels along KY 7 accordingly.

A rock fall has forced the emergency closure of part of KY 7 just north of West Liberty: WAVE 3: Rockfall Closes KY 7 North Of West Liberty (Jan. 5, 2005) 

By the end of the next years motorists in Elliott County should be able to cross the Little Sandy River on a new bridge. The bridge along KY 7—which will replace a narrow steel truss span—is part of an ongoing project to improve the road through the area. Construction of the bridge itself will cost $12.9 million.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New bridge part of $12.9 million Ky. 7 development (June 23, 2004) 

A festival this weekend marked the 150th anniversary of Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge. The bridge is located off of KY 7 in Greenup County. The festivities were marred by vandals who spray painted the interior of the bridge and a landslide that closed part of KY 7: Ashland Daily Independent: Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge celebrates 150th anniversary (May 31, 2004) 

The Elliott County Chamber of Commerce held a public meeting last week to discuss plans to widen KY 32/KY 7 through Sandy Hook. The chamber is concerned that the plans will impact parking at existing businesses along the route.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Chamber Sets Road Project Meeting (May 27, 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

On May 28 through May 30, the Greenup County Tourism and Convention Commission will hold a festival at the Bennett's Mill covered bridge. The bridge is located about eight miles from South Shore along KY 7.

More information: Daily Independent: Festival to mark covered bridge's span of time (May 20, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officially unveiled the restored Bennett's Mill covered bridge over Tygarts Creek in Greenup County near KY 7.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Restored Covered Bridge in Greenup County Unveiled to Public (Nov. 6, 2003) 

Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge over Tygarts Creek could be reopened by Nov. 1. The bridge, originally construction in 1850, was closed and dismantled in 2001. Under contract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Intech Contracting reconstructed the bridge to historic specification and using as much of the real bridge as possible.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Under Construction (Oct. 3, 2003) , Associated Press: Covered bridge rebuilding begins (Oct. 4, 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 Bennett's Mill bridge, a covered bridge which has crossed Tygarts Creek in Greenup County since the 1850s, will not be returned to the county this month. In interest of historic accuracy, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is re-evaluating the design of the bridge. New information has lead some to believe that the camber of the bridge is less than what had originally been thought.

The bridge connects East Tygarts Creek Road and KY 7. The bridge was closed to traffic by county officials in 2001 when it was noticed that the bridge was listing. The bridge was removed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and transported to Lexington for historic preservation work. Officials said the bridge needed to be removed because internal supports were deteriorating. The preservation contract specifies that the project should use as much of the original lumber as possible.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Return of bridge delayed (July 21, 2003) 

From http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/News/10-18-2002.htm :

ELLIOTT COUNTY, Ky.-(October 18, 2002)- State Senator Walter Blevins, Jr., State Representative Rocky Adkins, and Transportation Secretary James Codell, III along with other local and state officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in Elliott County today to celebrate the beginning of construction of the new Elliott County Welcome Center. This $431,000 center will be located at the confluence of Laurel Creek and Little Sandy River, 3 miles north of Sandy Hook on old route 7 & 32 or what is locally known as Laurel Cliffs & Curves Loop (county road #557).

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Elliott County Fiscal Court, Elliott County Cooperative Extension Service of University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Elliott County Heritage and Tourism Council along with Appalachian Regional Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, and Steel-Reese Foundation worked together to make this project possible.

Upon completion, the Elliott County Welcome Center will be known as the Elliott County Heritage & Cultural Center. The 3400 square feet center will contain many displays and exhibits depicting Elliott County’s history. Emphasis will be placed on education, transportation, arts, crafts, land use, and life in Elliott County.

Transportation Secretary James C. Codell, III said, "More and more, the Transportation Cabinet is given the opportunity to be a part of projects like this welcome center and we’re glad to participate. We can and are preserving our historic and natural treasures as they serve to educate us about our culture and remind us of the importance and beauty of our heritage and environment. The Federal Transportation Enhancement Program allows us to do these things for Elliott County."

Womack Development of Ashland was awarded the contract, and construction of the center is expected to be complete by spring 2003.

A new stop light configuration is expected to relieve congestion at the intersection of Main Street (US 60) and Carol Malone Boulevard (KY 7) in Grayson. The new light will allow drivers to turn left from Main Street onto Carol Malone Boulevard without waiting for on coming traffic.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Changes planned at busy Grayson intersection (Aug. 9, 2002) 

Thanks to Sherman for the link.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Professional Services has posted several procurement bulletins . Even if you aren't a contractor, these bulletins are useful for learning about upcoming road projects. Recent bulletins include:

• preliminary design of a new interchange near mile 27 on the Daniel Boone Parkway ,
• widening of Hurstbourne Parkway (KY 1747) near I-64 and US 60 in Jefferson County ,
• reconstruct KY 1848 near I-64 in Shelby County ,
• preliminary engineering for reconstructing part of KY 194 in Pike County ,
• design for US 641 relocation in Crittenden and Lyon county ,
• design for US 60 widening in Ballard and McCracken county ,
• scoping study for the proposed Heartland Parkway ,
• bridge replacement on KY 22 in Pendleton county ,
• design for KY 1/KY 7 widening project in Carter county ,
• design of a new connector between KY 6 and the Corbin by-pass in Knox and Whitley counties ,
• and preliminary engineering of a railroad grade separation on KY 80 in Pike County .

H.B. Elkins suggests in two articles in the Usenet newsgroup misc.transport.road that work being done along the KY 7 corridor in Eastern Kentucky will eventually lead to a London-Ashland Highway similar to the Alexandria-Ashland Highway in Northern Kentucky.

More information: Re: Southern OH/ Eastern KY Roadtrip  and Re: KY: Expansion of KY 7 - Grayson-London Link 

The Ashland Daily Independent reports in this Mar. 4, 2002 article  that $13.5 million in work on KY 7 in Elliott County will be let for bids this summer if all goes will with Army Corps of Engineers approval and state environmental reviews. The work requires approval from the Corps of Engineers because it borders a watershed property and from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife because it may impact bat habitat in the area. This project will reconstruct the road from the Laurel Gorge to KY 885. Other projects are planned along KY 7 in coming years.