Part Davistown, one of Lexington's poorest neighborhoods, will be razed to make way for a 1.25-mile extension of Newtown Pike through downtown Lexington. Many of the houses in the neighborhood will be cleared to make way for a new housing development and park associated with the project. Current residents have been promised opportunities to live in the new housing development.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Neighborhood will be razed for road extension (Nov. 15, 2003) 

A coalition, co-chaired by the senior vice-president of Toyota North America, has been formed to lobby for money needed to study and construct a replacement for the aging Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River. When the bridge opened in 1963, it was designed to carry 80,000 vehicles per day. Today it carries 149,000 vehicles per day.

More information: Kentucky Post: Coalition to lobby for a new bridge (Nov. 14, 2003) 

Update 17-Nov-2003: More information: Associated Press: Group urges replacing I-75 bridge (Nov. 16, 2003) 

Tim Ward of C.J. Mahan Construction Co has contributed aerial photographs of the Illinois Central Railroad Bridge at Metropolis, Illinois and the US 45 bridge at Brookport, Illinois. These have been added to the Bridges of the Ohio River Photo Gallery. Thanks to Tim for the contribution!

The commonwealth will use a provision of the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) to receive federal money to fund LexTran and TARC. The ISTEA allows states to use money spent constructing toll roads that are now part of the National Highway System to be used as credits to receive federal matching funds. Usually, states must match 20% of the federal money applied to highway and transit project; however, Kentucky will use credits accumulated through the construction of the Kentucky Turnpike and parkway system in place of the 20% state matching funds.

More information: KYTC Press Release: LexTran and TARC Public Transit Systems Receive Funding through Toll Road Monies (Nov. 12, 2003) 

Another section of the US 231 widening project has opened to traffic. This phase is from Alvaton east towards the Allen County line. Work on this section should be complete by December 1. Eventually, all of US 231 between Bowling Green and Scottsville will be widened to four lanes.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Section of U.S. 231 is opened (Nov. 14, 2003) 

Signs marking the site of a 1988 fatal bus crash near Carrollton have been temporarily removed during a project to replace signs along the entire length of I-71 in Kentucky.

Some local residents would prefer the signs stay down permanently. They feel the signs unfairly connect Carrollton to the accident. The signs originally read "site of Carrollton bush crash;" however, they were later changed to read "site of fatal bus crash." Families of accident victims want the signs returned.

On May 14, 1988, a drunk driver collided head on with a church bus. Twenty-seven passengers on the bus were killed by the ensuing inferno. Forty other passengers were injured.

More information: Hardin County News Enterprise: Signs at site of crash taken down temporarily (Nov. 13, 2003) 

A report by Transportation Cabinet Inspector General Bobby Russell has been delayed. The cabinet wanted to remove information that could be used to identify individual employees who were disciplined as a result of the investigation.

More information: Associated Press: Release of transportation report on Net porn delayed (Nov. 13, 2003) 

Contracts will be let this month for another phase of the Leitchfield Bypass (KY 3155). This phase will connect the existing road at City Park to Salt River Road (KY 920) where it will tie in with the nearly complete northern phase of the bypass between Salt River Road and KY 259. Work is expected to begin as soon as weather permits.

More information: Grayson County News-Gazette: Contracts set for November on east bypass (Oct. 22, 2003) 

Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan have appointed a two-state committee to enhance minority participation on the Louisville Southern-Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.

More information: Press Release from Office of Gov. Patton: Patton, Kernan Name Joint Panel to Oversee Minority Role in Ohio River Bridges Project (Nov. 13, 2003) , Associated Press: Governors appoint two-state panel for bridge projects (Nov. 13, 2003) 

The transportation cabinet will dismantle a one-lane steel bridge over the Little Sandy River in Greenup despite some protests. The span, constructed in the 1880s, has been closed to traffic due to structural decay. The span will be replaced sometime in 2004 or 2005.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Little Sandy Bridge will remain closed to traffic (Nov. 14, 2003) 

The Ohio portion of the L&N Bridge, known as locally as the "Purple People Bridge," will soon received benches and other decoration. Such decorations already adorn the Kentucky portion of the bridge.

More information: Kentucky Post: Bridge upgrades to create park (Nov. 14, 2003) 

Narration for a video presented during a meeting of persons against the construction of the proposed I-66 in Warren County described the site of a Dishman Lane collapse as being close to the location of the Kentucky Tri-Modal Transpark. The Bowling Green Daily News reports that the sites are 5-1/2 miles apart. A look at a map reveals that the two sites are at least 10 miles apart. The Dishman Lane collapse is much closer to sites such the William H. Natcher Parkway, Interstate 65, and the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport which to the best of my knowledge have not suffered cave ins.

The meeting was attended by about 20 people.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Presentation geared toward people against development (Nov. 12, 2003) 

An accident involving a tanker truck carrying hydrochloric acid forced the early morning closer of I-71 between exits 44 and 57. The interstate will remain closed until at least Thursday. Travelers in the area are asked to use US 42.

Up-to-date information regarding highway conditions in the area can be found at: 511.ky.gov 

More information: WLKY: Kentucky Highway To Be Closed Until Thursday (Nov. 12, 2003) 

Governor-Elect Ernie Fletcher, who will become Kentucky's first republican governor in 32 years, has named former Transportation Cabinet secretary Fred Mudge to head the transportation cabinet transition. Mudge was Gov. Patton's first transportation secretary.

More information: Courier-Journal: Fletcher announces 22 cabinet leaders for transition period (Nov. 12, 2003) 

A 20.7 mile project to build to widen US 119 to four lanes from Pikeville to the West Virginia border could be complete in 2006. The project began in 1975. The project cut through three mountains. Nine out of ten sections of the project have seen some construction, and many are now complete. The transportation cabinet is expected to let contracts for the tenth and final segment this month.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: The road to completion is getting shorter (Nov. 5, 2003) 

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) 

The US Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of building a new rail and highway bridge over the Tennessee River just below Kentucky Dam. The bridge is part of a project to build a large navigation lock at Kentucky Dam. The total cost of the project is expected to be $650,000,000. The 1200-foot bridge is expected to open in 2006; lock construction should be completed in 2012.

The bridge will carry US 62 and US 641. Both routes currently cross the river via a road on top of the dam.

More information: WPSD NewsChannel 6: New bridge opens '06 (Nov. 6, 2003) 

On Thursday, November 6, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss improvements to two Jefferson County intersections on Fegenbush Road: one at Outer Loop and the other Beulah Church Road.

More information: Courier-Journal: State seeks public input on intersection work (Nov. 5, 2003) 

Ricardo Moore has been named the liaison officer for the transportation cabinet's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Ricardo Moore Named Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Liaison Officer (Nov. 3, 2003) 

New information about several projects has been added to the Transportation Cabinet's Division of Planning website:

• US 421 Reconstruction in Jackson County 
• US 641 Widening in Caldwell and Lyon County 
• New Taylorsville Northwest Connector Route in Spencer County 
• New Leitchfield Bypass in Grayson County 

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that motorcylce accident related fatalities have risen 58% since the repeal of Kentucky's helmet law in 1998. In 2000, the rate of fatal motorcycle accidents was 8.2 per 10,000 registered motorcycles; that national average was 6.3.

More information: Courier-Journal: Motorcycle deaths rise after helmet-law repeal (Oct. 30, 2003) 

A newly reconstructed section of KY 30 has opened in Laurel County. The new stretch of highway connects with old KY 30 near KY 1227 to the Hal Rogers/Daniel Boone Parkway north of London.

More information: KYTC Press Release: New Section of KY 30 Now Open To Traffic (October 31, 2003) 

A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday to mark the completion of the first stage of a project to reconstruct KY 52 between Lancaster and I-75. The project is planned to be completed in four stages.

More information: KYTC Press Release: First stage of KY 52 Reconstruction officially opens (Oct. 29, 2003) 

Intech Contracting has been asked to devise a new plan for restoring the Goddard covered bridge in Fleming County or quit the job. Originally, Intech had planned to disassemble the bridge and restore it at a workshop in Lancaster; however, local opposition has lead the transportation cabinet to ask Intech to complete the bridge restoration on site.

More information: Associated Press: Bridge contractor asked to cancel or come up with new plan (October 30, 2003) , Associated Press: Restorers asked to re-think Fleming Bridge (October 30, 2003) 

Planning is underway to widen five miles of KY 32 between US 23 and Yatesville Lake State Park; however, construction is not expected to begin until 2007.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Ky. 32 will be widened, straightened (Oct. 27, 2003) , Ashland Daily Independent: Reaction to Ky. 32 road project mixed (Oct. 29, 2003) 

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) 

A stretch of US 68 near Pleasant Hill in Mercer County that had been closed for reconstruction reopened on October 22.

More information: Danville Advocate Messenger: Work completed on stretch of U.S. 68 (October 23, 2003) 

Plans for a new downtown bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville could disrupt the Waterfront Park.

More information: Courier-Journal: Bridge project design could threaten park (October 21, 2003) 

A cow escaped from a truck on Interstate 71 on October 16 and disrupted traffic near the Oldham County-Jefferson County line for some time before being destroyed by local officials.

More information: Courier-Journal: Cow loose on I-71 disrupts traffic, is finally captured (October 17, 2003) 

Right-of-way acquisition has recently been completed for the KY 393 widening project between KY 22 and Interstate 71 in Oldham County. This keeps construction on track to begin in 2004.

More information: Oldham County Era: Ky. 393 widening on track for 2004 (Oct. 13, 2003) 

Completion of construction on Elizabethtown.s Ring Road has been delayed until December 1. Construction was originally expected to be complete by October 6; however, weather caused delays in completing the project.

More information: Hardin County News-Enterprise: Ring of Fines: Ring Road project behind schedule (Oct. 13, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet presented several options for highways to connect the new Warren County Tri-Modal Transpark to I-65 at a public meeting on Oct. 9. Options include a new-freeway grade highway between I-65 and US 31W in northern Warren County and upgrading existing highways in the area.

More information: Bowling Green Daily-News: Public responds to interchange plan (Oct. 10, 2003) , Kentucky Trimodal Transpark 

A new interchange at Barnes Pike near Williamstown in Grant County was officially opened during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 7.

More information: KYTC Press Release: Governor Patton Officially Opens Barnes Pike Interchange (Oct. 9, 2003) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to soon release more information about the design of a new bridge over the Ohio River between Russell, Kentucky and Ironton, Ohio. The bridge will be a cable-stayed bridge.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: New bridge project enters design phase (Oct. 6, 2003) 

Diamond grinding on the westernmost section of the Owensboro Bypass and repaving of the northern end of the William H. Natcher Parkway should be complete by the end of November.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Work on U.S. 60 bypass going smoothly (November 5, 2003) 

A new interchange between the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway and KY 175 near Graham in Muhlenberg County opened October 5.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: New Parkway Exit Ofificially Opens Monday (Oct. 4, 2003) , KYTC Press Release: Governor Patton Cuts Ribbon on the New Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway/KY 175 Interchange in Muhlenberg County (Oct. 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) 

Many residents of rural Fayette County have lodged complaints about new high-mast lights on I-64. The lights are said to be visible from two to three miles away.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Longing for the dark (Oct. 1, 2003)