From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 12:

Construction under way on US 460 - US 23 interchange

PIKE COUNTY – February 14, 2011 – Work is under way on the mega-interchange that will connect new US 460 to US 23. Bizzack, the state’s successful bidder on the project, moved onto the Sookey’s Creek site today to begin construction on what is estimated to be a two-year project.

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From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 12:

PIKE COUNTY – January 12, 2011 – Friday, January 21, at 12:30 p.m. Governor Steve Beshear will join federal, state, and local officials to break ground for Corridor Q, the name given by the Appalachian Regional Commission for new US 460 in Pike County.

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The state is still cleaning up from recent ice and wind storms.

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In effort to combat overweight coal trucks, the state will install a weigh station on US 23: Lexongton Herald-Leader: State to put scale on busy coal route (Jan. 4, 2006) 

The Kentucky Transportation Project says a project to prevent rock from falling onto US 23 south of Pikeville has been successful. A fence was installed to catch falling rocks.

More information: Associated Press: Mountain highway safer thanks to rock-catching fences (Sept. 22, 2005) , Associated Press: Test fences keep boulders off highways (Sept. 23, 2005) 

Progress is once again visible on the U.S. Grant Bridge south of Portsmouth, Ohio. A new bridge is being constructed over the Ohio River on the site of a bridge demolished in 2001. The Ohio Department of Transportation has a scheduled opening date of October 31, 2006 for the new bridge.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Bridge to Portsmouth shows signs of progress (May 19, 2005) 

At a recent citizens advisory board meeting, a route that would widen KY 32 between Sandy Hook and Morehead was chosen as the preferred alternative for a proposed extension of KY 645 from US 23 to I-64.

More information: Morehead News: Proposed KY 645 widens KY 32 east; adds interchange at Rodburn area (April 1, 2005) , Ashland Daily Independent: Ky. 645 debates continue (April 3, 2005) 

Work to repaint Ashland’s twin Ohio River bridges is expected to begin this summer. A project to repaint the 13th Street Bridge is expected to begin this summer, and work to repaint the 12th Street Bridge is expected to begin in 2007.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Ohio River bridges to get facelift (March 21, 2005) 

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced that the new U.S. Grant Bridge over the Ohio River at Portsmouth, Ohio should be open to traffic in late-2006. The new cable-stayed bridge for US 23 was originally to be opened in 2004.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: ODOT: Grant bridge back on track (March 9, 2005) 

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that roads on which coal is hauled have twice as many deadly accidents as other roads: Lexington Herald-Leader: Coal-hauling roads: twice as deadly (Jan. 16, 2005) 

Records show that US 23 is the state’s deadliest roadway: Lexington Herald-Leader: Memorials every few miles on U.S. Highway 23 (Jan. 9, 2005) 

The Greenup County Fiscal Court has passed a resolution asking the state to investigate the intersection between US 23 and the AA Highway near Grays Branch. There have been numerous accidents at the intersection and Greenup County Commissioner Tony Quillen believes the turning radius at the intersection is too small: Ashland Daily Independent: Official asks state to examine junction (Dec. 27, 2004) 

A chemical leak at a DuPont plant near Wurtland forced the closure of roads in the area: Associated Press: Highway closed during chemical leak from DuPont plant (Oct. 11, 2004) 

Prestonsburg area truckers staged a protest along US 23 yesterday. The truckers claim that enforcement of rules governing the weight of trucks is unfair: Floyd County Times: Truckers line up along highway to seek reforms (June 30, 2004) 

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky leaders continue to lobby for the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge: Kentucky Post: Bridge replacement touted as national priority (April 22, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea made for new I-75 bridge (April 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge plan calls for $15M (April 29, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Voinovich wants $15M for bridge (April 30, 2004) 

No state budget was passed, so there is no state road plan: Franklin Favorite: Area legislators predict state will have a budget (April 22, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: No budget means no road plan (April 25, 2004) 

Jim Reis recognizes the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for its work in securing money to replace the Shortway Bridge: Kentucky Post: A century of boosting business (April 26, 2004) 

Meetings on I-71 widening in Jefferson County bring a variety of opinions: Courier-Journal: Meetings on I-71 plans draw strong opinions (April 28, 2004) 

The Governor has signed a bill to expand the authority of the Buffalo Trace covered bridge authority: Maysville Ledger Independent: Denham sponsored bills signed by governor (April 28, 2004)  Public meetings must now be held before the state does any work to the area’s covered bridges.

A project to widen US 231 in Indiana from the Natcher Bridge to I-64 has begun: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Project to 4-lane U.S. 231 begins (April 29, 2004)  The first five mile segment should be complete in 2 years.

P rospect residents are worried about an intersection on US 42: Oldham Era: Prospect residents seek help with U.S. 42 intersection (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss a new I-65 connector in northern Warren County: Bowling Green Daily News: Road options for transpark shown (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet was recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for its work in protecting the Eggbert’s Sunflower: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Protects Endangered Eggert's Sunflower (May 3, 2004) 

Repairs were made to I-65 near mile marker 30 to correct a drainage problem: Bowling Green Daily News: Dangerous I-65 spot seeing changes (May 6, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Speedy repairs on interstate are appreciated (May 8, 2004) 

The new US 23 over the Ohio River at South Shore is running “woefully behind:” Ashland Daily Independent: ODOT - Bridge project 'woefully behind' (May 13, 2004)  The new U.S. Grant Bridge is scheduled to open in 2005.

A section of US 23—which is designated the Country Music Highway through the entire state—was named in honor Bluegrass Musician Melvin Goins today. Goins is a resident of Boyd County.

More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: Boyd's Melvin Goins to get stretch of music highway (Feb. 19, 2004) 

Update (Feb. 21, 2004): More information: Ashland Daily-Independent: Goins added to Country Music Highway (Feb. 20, 2004) 

Ashland’s Highlands Museum & Discovery Center is seeking to a federal grant that would in part be used to provide more information about the affect of transportation on the development of the region.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Transportation in spotlight (Feb. 6, 2004) 

Leaders in Pikeville and Pike County are considering suing Quality Distribution over a chemical spill that closed US 23-the major corridor through the area-for an entire day in August. Pikeville and Pike County allege that Quality Distribution has failed to pay the amount that government agencies have requested for reimbursement.

More information: (Pikeville) Appalachian News-Express: City, county may sue over chemical spill (Jan. 19, 2004) 

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) 

Pond Run Road, which is part of both KY 244 and KY 750, north of US 23 in Raceland will see improvements thanks to a $300,000 grant from the federal government. The road will be widened from US 23 to the tunnels underneath the CSX rail yard. Widening on part of KY 750 south of US 23 was completed last year.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent: Expansion set for north side of Pond Run (Aug. 11, 2003) 

Two years after being cited by the Transportation Cabinet for delaying work on a road connecting US 23 and the Pikeville airport to illegally mine coal along the road's right-of-way, Elmo Greer & Sons of London has been fined $125,000. The company had been allowed rights to any coal uncovered during the construction of the road; however, Greer has been found to have illegally mined coal from a 40 acre waste area along the 2.7-mile road.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Road contractor fine took two years (Aug. 8, 2003) 

Two-hundred-and-sixty-two photographs of Kentucky's roads have been added to this website. The new photo galleries include:

• Bridges of the Ohio River - Several of Kentucky's 40 bridges across the Ohio River.
• William H. Harsha Bridge Photographs - Photographs of Kentucky's first cable stayed bridge: the William H. Harsha bridge near Maysville.
• I-64 - Sherman Minton Bridge - The I-64 and US 150 bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville.
• Shortway Bridge - The Old KY 1120 bridge over the Licking River between Kenton and Campbell Counties.
• I-65 - John F. Kennedy Bridge - The I-65 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• US 31 - George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge) - The US 31 bridge over the Ohio River at Louisville.
• I-65 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 30 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the new section of KY 30 under construction in Laurel County.
• I-65 Warren County Construction - June 29, 2001
• I-65 Warren County Construction - May 22, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - August 15, 2002
• I-65 Warren County Construction - July 5, 2003
• I-75 - Miscellaneous Images - Includes photographs of I-75 widening projects south of Lexington.
• William H. Natcher Bridge - October 26, 2002
• William H. Natcher Bridge - February 8, 2003
• Louisville - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 3 and KY 645 - Inez - January 3, 2003
• AA Highway - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 67 - Miscellaneous Images
• KY 80 - Miscellaneous Images - Along KY 80 in Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
• KY 101 and KY 259 - Edmonson County - November 18, 2001 - A new section of KY 259 and KY 101 under construction in Edmonson County.
• US 23 - Miscellaneous Images
• US 60 - Miscellaneous Images - Photographs of the Cumberland and Tennessee River bridges.

A few new images have been added to the KentuckyRoads.com - Miscellaneous Signs and KentuckyRoads.com - General Images galleries as well.

The KY 1384 overpass over US 23 in the Pikeville Cut will be renamed on Monday, according to the Appalachian News-Express . The bridge is currently known as the Masten Childers Bridge; on Monday the name of the bridge will be renamed the Velma and Masten Childers Bridge.

This bill adjourning the Kentucky General Assembly  (word document) on the occasion of Velma Childer's seventieth birthday on Jan. 24, 2000 contains some biographical information about Childers.

Public reaction to extending KY 645 from US 23 near Ulysses west to I-64 is mixed. Some claim it will cause environment havoc; others say it will improve the local economy.

More information: Daily Independent: Public speaks on 645 (June 6, 2003) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is installing high-strength fences along some highways in Eastern Kentucky to limit the effects of rock falls. The fences are designed to catch falling debris and prevent it from blocking the road. These fences have already been installed along a section of Kentucky 1274 in Menifee County and are being installed along a section of US 23 in Pike County. Rock falls are common along highways in Eastern Kentucky. Recently, a rock fall on KY 1460 closed the highway for two days.

More information: Daily Independent: State tries fences to keep rocks off roadways (Jan. 9, 2003) 

The KYTC Division of Planning has posted information a planning study  concerning extending KY 645 from US 23 near Ulysses to I-64

A transportation cabinet highway planner, Keith Damron, reports that construction of a segment of I-66 in Pike County could begin next year. The actual beginning of construction is dependent on final federal approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation and available funding. This section of I-66 is about 30 miles long and would begin at US 23 in Pikeville and extend to the West Virginia border. This road is expected to cost $1.5 billion (or $50 million per mile).

More information: Floyd County Times: Construction of I-66 could begin next year (Sept. 4, 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) 

Three new America's Byways have been designated in Kentucky. These include US 23, "The Country Music Highway," in Eastern Kentucky; KY 15, "The Red River Gorge Scenic Byway;" and parts of US 25 and KY 229 which form "The Wilderness Road Heritage Highway." The National Scenic Byways Program was started in 1991 to preserve historic and scenic highways. It is administered by the Federal Highway Administration. These three routes are the first America's Byways to be designated in Kentucky.

More information: FHWA Press Release (June 13, 2002) , Messenger-Inquirer: Kentucky Routes Join America's Byways List (June 13, 2002) , Courier-Journal: Three routes added to scenic byway system (June 14, 2002) , Herald-Leader: Three roads are first in state added to America's Byways (June 14, 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 .

Work has begun to improve safety on US 23 near Catlettsburg. The work is aimed at preventing rock slides along the route. Lanes will be closed periodically through out the project which is expected to be completed in September.

More information: Ashland Daily Independent (Feb. 21, 2002) 

The KYTC will be holding a public meeting Thursday, February 6 at 5:00 pm in the commons area of Pikeville High School. The meeting is to discuss the US 23 Congestion Relief Project.

The Ashland Daily Independent reports in this Dec. 30, 2001 article  that the KYTC is testing SMA asphalt on a stretch of US 23 in Boyd and Lawrence counties. SMA asphalt is an idea imported from Europe and is designed to handle heavy traffic and large trucks.

This Ashland Daily Independent article  discusses the possibility of constructing a new bridge to connect Irontown, Ohio and Russell, Kentucky. Thanks for the pointer from Sherman .

The Ashland Daily-Independent reports in this Sept. 5, 2001 article  that a new access ramp to the Ashland Town Center Mall from US 23 has opened.

The Ashland Daily Independent reports in this August 14, 2001 article  that changes will be made at the US 23 and I-64 interchange to alleviate congestion caused by coal trucks.