From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 9:

Adopt-a-Highway groups poised to ‘summer scrub’ roadsides, help preserve scenic beauty of the commonwealth
Spring Clean Week in northeast Kentucky is June 6-12

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Volunteers will be out in force soon to “summer scrub” state highways throughout Kentucky. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has announced that the Adopt-a-Highway Summer Scrub Week will be held June 6-12.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Nearly 1,100 groups now participate in Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway program, which the cabinet established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,800 miles of roadsides annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

In Department of Highways District 9, about 35 percent of roads, or nearly 700 miles in Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan counties, are adopted.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place a high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said.

By reducing litter, the Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and makes it easier to promote tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in our Bluegrass State. The Transportation Cabinet salutes all participants and thanks them for their tireless efforts.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to your community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking personal responsibility for one of your area roadways, you will be setting an example for your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of litter from Kentucky roadways. As an Adopt-a-Highway volunteer, you will save thousands in taxpayer dollars and demonstrate to others that a clean environment is important.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep the area reasonably litter-free. The Cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts throughout the year, including the summer scrub week.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/ . Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, please visit our Web site at www.adopt-a-highway.ky.gov  or call Jenny Perkins at (800) 817-2551 in Flemingsburg.