Warren County's fiscal court approved an agreement with the City of Bowling Green to cooperate on a project to rebuild a section of Cave Mill Road past the end of the current three lane segment. The road which is cooperatively maintained by the city and the county is an important cooridor connecting major arteries on Bowling Gren's south side. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet cabinet projects the work cost $28 million over 6 years.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Cave Mill Road project agreement moves ahead (Dec. 18, 2022) 

Warren County Fiscal Court has approved the advertisement of bids to restore the Old Richardsville Road Bridge over the Barren River. The county received a $312,000 grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to aid in preservation of the bridge which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge has been closed since 2018 due to concerns with its condition.

The county will also replace a low water ford on Little Beaver Creek Road with a bridge.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Plans for county bridges move forward (May 24, 2021) 

Officials from the Federal Railroad Administration and CSX Transportation held a meeting last week to discuss changes required to keep the railroad 'quiet zone' in downtown La Grange: Louisville Courier-Journal: Meeting to focus on keeping ‘quiet zone’ in La Grange (Sept. 23, 2009) 

Several studies are underway to determine how to improve the Green River Ferry crossing in Mammoth Cave National Park. The options being considered are improving the current ferry or replacing the ferry with a low water bridge or a high bridge crossing.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Mussel study a factor in river crossing issue (Aug. 14, 2009) , U.S. National Park Service: Mammoth Cave National Park - Ferries 

A public meeting next Wednesday, Feb 18th for the West Market Street Corridor Improvement Study. The meeting will be at Shawnee High School at 5:30pm.

More information: West Market Street Meeting Flier, Project Web Site 

An abandoned Illinois Central Gulf railroad bridge over the Tradewater River will be converted into an automobile bridge for use by emergency traffic. The town of Blackford in Webster County is occasionally cut off from traffic during floods; it is hoped this bridge will still open even during high water.

More information: Evansville Courier & Press: Funding near for Tradewater River bridge work (Feb. 2, 2004) 

For the past six months, motorists have ignored road closed signs on Dorsey Lane near LaGrange Road in eastern Jefferson County only to find that the road is, in fact, closed. On June 30, 2003, CSX Transportation closed the railroad crossing on Dorsey Lane; however, traffic still continues to try to cross there. In the process of turning around, motorists are destroying local resident Jim Weinert's driveway.

Weinert recently contacted CSX to see what could be done about the traffic situation.

More information: Courier-Journal: Hint to motorists: When sign says, 'Road Closed,' it is (Jan. 23, 2004) 

A new bridge over Floyds Fork should be open by years end. An old one-lane bridge was closed in July 2002 after an inspector found dangerous problems with the bridge.

More information: Courier-Journal: Aiken Road bridge quickly takes shape (October 24, 2003) 

Bad weather and drainage problems have delayed a project to widen Cave Mill Road in Bowling Green. The narrow, curvy road is being widened and a hill near the intersection of Grider Pond Road is being removed. The rebuilt Cave Mill Road will connect with the new Dishman Lane and add a new modern highway corridor between Scottsville Road (US 231), Nashville Road (US 31W), and Russellville Road (US 68-KY 80).

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Cave Mill widening project delayed (July 24, 2003) 

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) 

A bit of interesting news from McCracken County, a U-Haul truck became stuck under a railroad trestle. Officials had to let the air out of the vehicles tires to remove it from underneath the bridge. There was one minor injury and minor damage to the bridge; however, it was not closed to trains.

More information: WPSD: One Passenger Suffers Minor Injury (July 19, 2003)  (inlcudes photograph of the incident)

The Ohio Department of Transportation installed falcon birdhouses on the Ironton-Russell Bridge. The birdhouses were placed on the opposite of the bridge from the sidewalk to discourage interaction between the birds and pedestrians on the bridge.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Falcon nests planned on bridge (March 13, 2003) 

The state's budge passed in March included money to build a new bridge over Floyds Fork in eastern Jefferson County. The existing one-lane bridge was closed to traffic in July 2002 when inspectors found that trucks were ignoring the 3-ton weight limit and the bridge deck was deteriorating rapidly. The Louisville Metro Government, who owns the bridge, planned to begin work to replace the bridge as soon as possible.

More information: Courier-Journal: Budget has $1.5 million for new Aiken Road bridge (March 12, 2003)  (includes picture of the bridge)

A run down of Warren County area road projects:

• I-65 construction between Bowling Green and Smiths Grove is complete. A few miles of the interstate near the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway are now under construction. This is part of a project to widen I-65 to six lanes from the Tennessee state line to Elizabethtown.
• The new intersection between I-65 and Cemetery Road (KY 234) is complete and open. It is now Exit 26 on I-65.
• Work to widen US 231 between Bowling Green and Alvaton is complete. Work has now started on the US 231 project to the south and east of Alvaton. US 231 is being widened to four lanes from Bowling Green to Scottsville.
• The City of Bowling Green and Warren County are funding work to rebuild and widen Cave Mill Road from Scottsvile Road (US 231) to Dishman Lane.
• The Natcher Parkway extension from I-65 to US 231 east of Bowling Green is still planned; however, there is currently no funding for the project.
• The planning process for I-66 and the Bowling Green Beltline project continues.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Road improvements (Jan. 31, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Public will get view of plans for two roads (Feb. 6, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Road construction in area makes for dangerous driving (April 10, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: End in sight for construction on U.S. 231 (April 14, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Tolls to be halted on two roads (May 31, 2001) , Bowling Green Daily News: Work starts on another section of Cave Mill (June 30, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Road paving will take place at night (July 12, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: ITA presents virtual transpark model (July 17, 2003) 

Several Warren County roads will be repaced in 2003. These include Hammett Hill Road, Benleo Road, Fairview Boiling Springs Road, and Old Scottsville Road.

More information: Daily News: $1.157 million in state money expected for road work in Warren (Dec. 16, 2002) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced the following upcoming public meetings:

• Sept. 9 - Discussion of Upgrades to US 51 in Hickman County 
• Sept. 10 - Discussion of Upgrades to US 51 in Carlisle County 
• Sept. 10 - Replacement of the High Street Bridge 
• Sept. 19 - Construction of a new interchange and rest area on I-75 
• Sept. 24 - US 421 widening in Fayette County 
• Sept. 26 - US 460 Realignment in Morgan County 
• Oct. 7 - US 119 Reconstruction in Letcher County 

Federal, state, and local officials have pledged that housing and community input will be taken into account during the planning and construction of an extension to Newtown Pike in downtown Lexington. 180 new homes will be constructed by non-profit agencies during the process of building the new road. The new 1.25 mile road is expected to open in 2007. The road will connect West Main Street to Patterson Street.

More information:

• Herald-Leader: Newtown Pike area gets pledge of protection (Sept. 6, 2002) 
• Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government: Newtown Pike Extension 

Plans for roads in the new Oxmoor Farm development in Jefferson County near Shelbyville Road (US 60) have upset some local residents. The plans call for connections between the new development and the adjacent neighborhoods in Jeffersontown. The article below mentions that urban planners now see connections between neighborhoods as important. It is believed that suburban congestion is a problem because neighborhoods are only connection in a few points; on the other hand older neighborhoods (such as the Old Louisville neighborhood) were laid out on a grid and have many more connections.

More information: Courier-Journal: Suburban road plan upsets some residents (Sept. 1, 2002) 

A neighborhood group will present an alternative plan for reconstructing Clays Mill Road in Fayette County at a meeting on September 17. The time and place of the meeting has yet to be determined.

Plans exist to widen the road to three or five lanes. The crowded road is a residential corridor lined with schools and churches. Neighborhood groups oppose widening because they fear it will bring a great increase in traffic.

More information:

• Lexington Herald-Leader: New plans for Clays Mill? (Aug. 28, 2002) 
• Lexington Herald-Leader: Widening Clays Mill Road -- Letters to the Editor (Jul. 27, 2002) 
• LFUCG Division of Engineering: Clays Mill Road Scoping Study 

The Courier-Journal reports on a number current and upcoming road projects in their August 23 edition. Among these projects are:

• I-264 - A two-year project to reconstruct the western leg of I-264 between I-64 and Dixie Highway. This section of I-264 is known as the Shawnee Expressway. The 7.6-mile $60 million project will include adding two lanes near I-64. Work will begin in the spring.
• Hurstbourne Parkway (KY 1747) - A project begin in July to extend Hurstbourne Parkway from Bardstown Road to Fern Valley Road.
• Westport Road (KY 1447) - Westport Road will be widened to 5 lanes from Hubbards Lane to Hurstbourne Parkway. A new interchange will be constructed at I-264.
• National Turnpike (KY 1020) - Widen to five lanes from Southside Drive to Outer Loop.
• New Cut Road (KY 1865) - Widen to five lanes from Third Street Road to Outer Loop.
• Jefferson Boulevard - Construct a four lane extension from McCawley Road north to Poplar Level Road.
• Gene Snyder Freeway (KY 841/I-265) - Resurface three miles near Bardstown Road.

More information: Courier-Journal: ROAD WORK AHEAD: Watch for headaches (Aug. 23, 2002) 

In October, the city of Owensboro will begin work on the approach to the Glover Cary Bridge in downtown Owensboro. This work will include widening the approach to the bridge and widening J.R. Miller Boulevard between Third and Fourth Streets. This work includes demolition of a house that sits across the street from the approach to the bridge.

More information: Messenger-Inquirer: 'Tis the season for city's major construction (Aug. 18, 2002) 

The Lexington Herald-Leader ran several articles discussing Lexington area traffic in their Sunday, Aug. 18, 2002. Among the articles was a look at the mayoral candidates' plans for congestion relief: the paper states that one candidate's plan may be impossible and the other's is already being implemented. Another article examines the work of the city's traffic signal systems manager who has recently been trying new traffic signal patterns on the city's highways. Another article attempts to answer frequently asked questions about traffic signals in Lexington, one article looks at how traffic on Man o' War Boulevard has developed since it opened in 1988, and a final article looks at the city's traffic television show.

According to one article, when Man o' War Boulevard opened in 1988 the 16.1 mile road had 11 stop lights and one flashing warning light. An Herald-Leader reporter was able to drive the road in 25 minutes. Now the road has 33 stop lights, and a drive from one end to the other took 30 minutes.

More information:

• Herald-Leader: Crosbie, Isaac focus on traffic (Aug. 18, 2002) 
• Herald-Leader: Traffic Q&A (Aug. 18, 2002) 
• man o' war: then & now (Aug. 18, 2002) 
• 'Traffic update' livens up newscast (Aug. 18, 2002) 
• Engineers work to reduce the stop-and-go in Lexington (Aug. 18, 2002) 

As reported earlier, a new turn lane was added at the intersection of Winchester Avenue and 13th Street in Ashland to provide better access to the Simeon Willis Bridge over the Ohio River. The new turn lane appears to be working as intended.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New turn lane on Winchester makes difference (Aug. 9, 2002) 

Thanks to Sherman for the link.

The Kentucky Department of Highways will modify the interserction of Winchester Avenue and 13th Street in Ashland to provide two turn lanes for cars turning onto the Simeon Willis Bridge over the Ohio River.

More information: The Daily Independent: Road work set to change Winchester (Aug. 2, 2002) 

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, plans to widen three highways in Mammoth Cave National Park must be approved by 30 regulators. The planning process takes four to five years. The projects will reconstruct park routes 10 and 15 and widen park route 110 to the Maple Springs Research Center.

More information: National Park Service: Draft Environment Assessment -- Reconstruct Routes 10, 15, and 110 , Daily News: Roads go through miles of red tape (June 29, 2002) 

City of Bowling Green Public Works Director Emmett Wood told the Bowling Green City Commission that the proper procedures were followed in the design of an extension of Dishman Lane. The extension collapsed in February leaving a hole that was 15 foot deep and 40 feet across. Wood said the planning began over 10 years ago and construction began in 1996. He said small changes were made to the plan and that changes to the drainage system caused by these changes may not have been accurately assessed. In hindsight, he says, these could be considered to be errors.

More information: Daily News: Process not to blame in road collapse, expert says (June 19, 2002) .

Bids to repair a collapsed section of Dishman Lane in Bowling Green came in lower than expected. Scotty's Contracting submitted the lowest bid for the project at $782,095. Repair of the 130 feet by 110 feet and 15 foot deep hole is expected to take 120 days. Work is planned to begin once Bowling Green Municipal Utilities relocates a nearby water main.

More info: Daily News: Dishman Lane will cost less than expected (June 6, 2002) 

The Bowling Green city commission is expected to consider the costs of repairing Dishman Lane at the June 4th meeting. Bowling Green Municipal Utilities has already begun advertising for bids to relocate a 20-inch water main in the area. The relatively new road collapsed into a sinkhole in February. The city has been in touch with the engineering firms who first began planning for the road thirteen years ago to see what was known about the cave system in the area.

More information: Daily News: Dishman Lane repair costs to be known soon (May 8, 2002) 

Recent flooding has caused damage to a small county road that connects the AA Highway and US 23 in Greenup County, according to this Daily Independent article .

A large section of Dishman Lane in Bowling Green collapsed Monday evening. The damage is described as "a 40-foot collapse that encompassed an area about the size of a football field." Four cars were caught in the collapse, but there were no reports of injuries. There is no agreement on the cause of the collapse: some claim that a cave my have collapsed underneath the roadbed. The Bowling Green Road Department does not know when the damage will be repaired. The road, built by the City of Bowling Green, opened about two years ago.

More information: Daily News: Dishman Lane Collapses  Daily News: Experts Disagree on Cause