From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3:

Governor Beshear announces increased speed limit of 65 mph on U.S. 68/KY 80 between Cadiz, Bowling Green
‘Well-designed, well-built highway’ is connector between I-24 and I-65

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear, joined by area legislators and state and local officials, today unveiled new highway signs announcing a higher speed limit of 65 mph on strategically located U.S. 68/KY 80 between Cadiz and Bowling Green.

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From Kentucky Transporation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3 (Sept. 14, 2012):

District 3 Traffic Impact Report

 KYTC District 3:  Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd and Warren Counties

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 3:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will hold a public meeting from 4 pm until 7 pm on Thursday, September 30 at the Lewisburg Elementary School cafeteria concerning the reconstruction of US 431 from Epleys to KY 106.

This meeting is to present to the public the preliminary alternatives that have been developed for the project. Handouts, containing information about the project, comment sheets and displays will be available at the meeting.

Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and their consultants will be available to answer questions. Both written and oral statements will be accepted at the meeting.

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Work on US 79 in Logan County recently narrows the highway to one lane: Logan County News-Democrat&Leader: Bridge work on U.S. 79 to be one-lane (Oct. 4, 2005) 

State Legislator Representative Brent Yonts (D, 15th District)  has begun a campaign to have US 431 widened to four lanes from Owensboro to the Tennessee state line: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Yonts pushing for four-laning of U.S. 431 (Sept. 16, 2005) 

A route has been chosen for the proposed southern bypass of Russellville. The chosen route was the longest of three alternatives considered and will connect at the existing northern bypass at both ends. Right-of-way purchase for the eastern leg of the bypass (between US 68/KY 80 and KY 100) is expected to begin this year.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Logan selects route for bypass (May 3, 2005) , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Commissioner says Southern Bypass coming (May 3, 2005) 

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The annual 400 Mile Sale stretching along US 68 from Maysville to Paducah will be held June 2-5: Maysville Ledger-Independent: A 400 mile opportunity: Yard sale is a big chance for buyers and sellers (May 1, 2005) , West Kentucky Corporation: 400 Mile Sale Across Kentucky , Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: 400 Mile events listed along U.S. 68-80 (May 10, 2005) 

The Transportation Cabinet is studying the cost of straightening curves along KY 79 in the area of Davenport Hill in Logan County: Bowling Green Daily News: Ky. 79 improvements sought in Logan (Feb. 8, 2005) 

A recent accident brings the death toll along KY 79 in Logan County since the late 1950s to seven: Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Crash claims another life on Morgantown Rd.; There had been six deaths in this area of KY 79 since the late 1950s; this recent one makes seven (Feb. 6, 2005) 

The Logan County Fiscal Court is encouraging the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to begin the process of improving a stretch of KY 79: Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Court asks state to make KY 79 safer (Nov. 2, 2004) 

Owensboro officials hope to someday see a connector between Farmview Drive to Carpenter Drive; however, officials are wary of plans to widen US 431 from Owensboro to the Tennessee border: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: City seeks Farmview connector (Oct. 27, 2004) 

Following an accident at the intersection of KY 79 and the US 68/KY 80 Bypass in Russellville, a youth group from Oak Grove Baptist Church wrote to the Logan County Fiscal Court suggesting safety improvements at intersections along the bypass: Logan County News-Democrat & Leader: Church teens seek more Bypass safety measures (Oct. 15, 2004) 

Gov. Fletcher and Transportation Secretary Bailey have appointed chief highway engineers for nine of the Division of Highways' twelve districts.

• Edward “Ted” Merryman has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 1 and 2. Previously, Merryman was chief highway engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Greg Meredith has been reappointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 2. [more information ]
• Gary M. Raymer, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 4. [more information ]
• David Jones, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 6. [more information ]
• Jim Rummage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 7. [more information ]
• Katrina O. Bradley, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for district 9. [more information ]
• Samuel H. Beverage, P.E. has been appointed as Chief Highway Engineer for districts 10 and 11. [ more information ]

More information: WKYT: Gov. Fletcher Hires New Highway Engineers (June 29, 2004) , Associated Press: Fletcher appoints top highway engineers (June 30, 2004) , Hardin County News-Enterprise: Highway engineer appointed in E'town (June 30, 2004) , Maysville Ledger-Independent: New KTC Engineer Sees District as Unique (July 2, 2004) 

US 68 and KY 80 played host a 400 mile long yard sale the first weekend of June: Bowling Green Daily News: 400-mile yard sale kicks off on 68-80 (June 3, 2004) , (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: The 400-mile sale (June 4, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Buyers crossing nation for statewide sale (June 5, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Festival gives Smiths Grove chance to relax, sell goods (June 6, 2004) 

The US 68 Yard Sale is underway today through Sunday in the 24 counties along the path of US 68 in Kentucky: more information .

As part of a continuing project to recognize the birthplaces of Kentucky’s musicians signs have recently been erected honoring Ray Goins  and Curley Ray Cline . (Update (Apr. 24): WKYT: Bluegrass Fiddler Honored (Apr. 23, 2004) )

A ceremony has held recently to dedicate the Helen Brown Bridge . Helen Brown was influential in having the Pikeville area bridge built.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports on road projects planned for Warren and surrounding counties: Bowling Green Daily News: Transportation budget on track (April 5, 2004) 

Environmental groups oppose the Louisville Bridges Project, I-66, and other expedited projects: Courier-Journal: Environmental groups critical of bridges project (Apr. 9, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reminds motorists to brake for construction workers .

Kentucky’s State Highway Engineer, James M. “Mac” Yowell, has been inducted to the University of Kentucky’s Engineering Hall of Distinction.

This summer will see an event known as “400 Miles of Antiques, Collectibles & Stuff” along nearly 400-miles of US 68 Kentucky. The event will be held June 3-6 and involve events along in 24 counties along US 68’s route.

More information: Central Kentucky News-Journal: 400 miles of opportunity -- June event will bring thousands of visitors, dollars to Central Kentucky (March 14, 2004) 

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey told state legislators on Wednesday that no projects were cut from this year's version of the Six Year Highway plan; however, some projects have delayed due to the states budget problems.

The list of projects is too long to list here; however, some notable projects are listed below.

• $118 million for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project. Some of this money will be raised by selling bonds that would be repaid when promised federal funding is allocated for the project.
• $78 million for reconstruction of the Owensboro bypass to the east of its current alignment. This is meant to improve access to the William H. Natcher Bridge.
• Widening of I-64 from Louisville to Shelbyville.
• Widening of I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Bowling Green.
• Widening of I-75 in Scott and Grant counties.
• Southern extensions of both the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parwkay.

A notable absence from the list is funding for replacing the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River; however, the project remains on the unscheduled needs list and officials claim that it is still a priority. Construction on the project is still over a decade away.

This year the transportation cabinet has split the list into projects that will receive federal funding and projects that will not receive federal funding. Projects that will be funded only by the state are expected to be delayed and will be prioritized by need.

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Kentucky New Era writer describes her trip along a stretch of road in Todd and Logan Counties that she claims is much the same it was 30 years ago: (Hopkinsville) Kentucky New Era: Trenton to Keysburg: A road that never changes (Jan. 16, 2004) 

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Professional Services Procurement Bulletins for January include design for the relocation of US 431 in Logan County , design for relocating US 127 in Clinton County (1 , 2 , 3 ), and design for relocating KY 92 in McCreary County .

The Bowling Green Daily News reports in this Mar. 3, 2002 article  that the Barren River Area Development Highway Safety Committee, a group composed of area elected officials and highway officials, is proposing education, engineering, enforcement, emergency services and enactment to change hazards they see on Kentucky roads. There have been nearly 200 deaths on roads in the Barren River area since 1997. Greg Meredith, from the Department of Highways, says that some of the improvements are more attainable than others, but that state budget constraints make it unlikely that many of the improvements can be implemented. On proposal, the construction of a barrier in the middle of I-65, is already part of the I-65 widening project.