A project to widen four blocks of Second Street in downtown Louisville is scheduled to be completed on December 19. The project is currently three months behind schedule.

More information: Courier-Journal: Second Street project nears completion (Sept. 29, 2003) 

The section of the Northeastern Kentucky Industrial Parkway between KY 207 and US 23 at Wurtland opened on Thursday, Sept. 25. The two lane highway connecting I-64 to US 23 is intended to provide improved access to industrial development in Greenup County.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Industrial Parkway opens today (Sept. 25, 2003) , Ashland Daily Independent: 'It's a 50-year investment' (Sept. 26, 2003) 

Leaders seek to replace the aging Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River. The eight-lane bridge which was built in 1963 and last remodeled in 1985, is one of 15 bridges nationwide described by the FHWA as functionally obsolete. A study is currently underway to determine how to best replace the bridge.

More information: Associated Press: N. Kentuckians seek new bridge to Cincinnati (Sept. 23, 2003) , Cincinnati.com: Special Report: Collision Course (Sept. 22, 2003)  (an analysis of the Brent Spence Bridge and proposals to replace it)

Traffic on US 68 Harrodsburg Road in southern Fayette County will soon be switched to two new lanes. The project is expected to be completed next year.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Progress in widening Harrodsburg Road (Sept. 20, 2003) 

The last few months have seen the renaming of two parkways and the AA Highway. The Kentucky Post editorialized the situation: Kentucky Post: The name game (Sept. 17, 2003) 

A September 17 article in the Courier-Journal looked back at the costs of Governor Patton's scandal: Courier-Journal: One year later, Patton scandal's costs assessed; Conner faces tougher fight than governor (Sept. 17, 2003) 

As part of a project to replace signs along I-71 between Louisville and I-75, the transportation cabinet employees erected three signs misspelling "Pewee Valley" as "Peewee Valley." Local residents noticed and reported the error after installation. The transportation cabinet corrected the spelling on the signs.

More information: Courier-Journal: State is to correct spelling on Pewee Valley road signs (Sept. 11, 2003)  (includes a photograph of a sign with the misspelling)

State Representative Brent Yonts has filed a resolution to place two names on the parkway connecting London and Hazard. Yonts proposes the parkway be officially known as both the Hal Rogers Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. He hopes that the compromise proposal will please those wishing to keep Daniel Boone.s name on the parkway and still provide recognition for U.S. congressman Hal Rogers. Rep. Rogers helped secure federal money to remove tolls from the parkway; In May, Governor Paul Patton directed that the parkway be renamed as the Hal Rogers Parkway. Yonts. resolution cannot be voted on until the General Assembly convenes in January.

Meanwhile, Governor Patton proposed renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro to honor Daniel Boone. US 25E generally follows the route of Boone.s Wilderness Road. The road has been upgraded to four lanes over the pass 20 years.

More information: Courier-Journal: E. Kentucky parkway could get 2 names (Sept. 11, 2003) , Associated Press: Patton Makes Suggestion To Solve Parkway Uproar (Sept. 19, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Governor would name U.S.25E for Boone to defuse controversy (Sept. 20, 2003) 

Several transportation cabinet employees received awards at the 2003 conference of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials: KYTC Press Release: Kentuckians Reap Awards at 2003 AASHTO Conference in Minneapolis (Sept. 10, 2003) 

Dozens of people have submitted comments on a proposal to build a new connector to route from near the Gene Snyder Freeway in Jefferson County to Crestwood in Oldham County. The new route would be four lanes and is intended to provide improved access to Pewee Valley.

More information: Courier-Journal: Dozens comment on connector road (Sept. 9, 2003) , Oldham County Era: State seeking input on Old Henry bypass (Sept. 12, 2003) 

Two studies are planned to determine routes for improved highways in Campbell County. A design study will begin this year to determine plans to widen KY 9 from Wilder into Newport. Another study has been funded to determine a route for a connector route between I-275 and the AA Highway. This new route would improve highway access to Northern Kentucky University.

More information: Kentucky Post: Officials hope to widen Ky. 9 (Sept. 6, 2003)  , Cincinatti Enquirer: Federal money routed to N.Ky. (Sept. 6, 2003) , Kentucky Post: Road Would Spark Tech Triangle (Sept. 6, 2003) 

The Federal Highway Administration issued a Record of Decision marking the approval of the Environmental Impact Study of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridge Project. This clears the way for final design and right-of-way acquisition.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation honored the transportation cabinet.s environmental stewardship in developing the bridge plans.

More information: Courier Journal: Couisville bridges project confirmed (Sept. 6, 2003) , Courier Journal: Bridges project clears U.S. review (Sept. 24, 2003) , KYTC Press Release: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Recognized Nationally for Environmental Stewardship on Ohio River Bridges Project (Sept. 26, 2003) 

Owensboro residents chose to continue to use blue paint to paint the Glove Cary Bridge over the Ohio River. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet now let locals select the color to paint bridges, and Owensboro residents chose to continue the at least 40 year old tradition of having the Blue Bridge in downtown.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Bridge ballot blue is best (Sept. 5, 2003) 

The U.S. Coast Guard has determined that the captain a towboat that collided with the Spottsville Bridge was negligent. The collision with the bridge carrying US 60 over the Green River occurred on May 29 and caused some structural damage. The bridge was closed until June 22 while repairs were made.

More information: Associated Press: Captain blamed in barge crash (Sept. 5, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has scheduled the following public meetings to discuss various road projects in Kentucky:

• September 29 and 30 - Study US 641 in Lyon and Caldwell Counties: KYTC Division of Planning: US 641 
• October 9 - New interchange on I-65 in northern Warren County: KYTC: I-65/US 31W Connector Public Meeting Notice 
• October 9 - New KY 6 connector for Woodbine to Corbin Bypass in Knox and Whitley Counties: KYTC: KY 6 Public Meeting Notice 
• October 21 - Study US 421 in Jackson County: KYTC Division of Planning: US 421 Meeting Announcement 
• October 23 - Eastern Nicholasville Bypass in Jessamine County: KYTC: Eastern Jessamine Public Meeting Notice 
• November 6 - Rock fall correction and flood mitigation on KY 1964 in Woodford County: KYTC: Clifton Road Public Meeting Notice 

More information: Kentucky New Era (Hopkinsville): Public invited to view proposed U.S. 641 plans (Sept. 16, 2003) , Bowling Green Daily News: Interchange Meeting Set (Sept. 26, 2003) 

Materials from recent public meeting concerning the proposed Heartland Parkway have been posted on the transportation cabinet's web site. The proposed corridor will follow KY 55 and KY 555 from the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway to the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway.

More information: KYTC Division of Planning: Heartland Parkway 

The National Partnership for Highway Quality awarded its 2003 State Award to the team involved in the Paris Pike Reconstruction Project. Special care to preserve the character of the neighboring land was taken during the project to widen Paris Pike between Lexington and Paris.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Kentucky Highway Team Wins National Quality Award (Sept. 5, 2003) , Ohio Valley Roads: Paris Pike