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US 460/Appalachian Corridor Q in Pike County, Ky.

Started by hbelkins, December 05, 2009, 08:06:24 PM

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hbelkins

Had to go to Pikeville for work yesterday and as a reward for my assistance with a project (and because I had asked) I got a tour of the construction project of US 460, Appalachian Corridor Q, in Pike County, Ky.

The road as it is currently configured runs from US 23/119 south of Pikeville to KY 195 near the Wolfpit community in Pike County. That is the extent of the current construction; lettings the next couple of years will extend it to the Virginia state line near Elkhorn City and tie in with VDOT's segment of the project on to meet the existing four-lane at Grundy.

Currently, bridges carrying the four lanes of US 460 across a stream, railroad and KY 122 (former US 23) are complete, and the road is complete and paved except for the final layer to a bridge across Greasy Creek and the road there. Here there are bridge pillars in place but construction has been halted and the project will have to be re-bid because of an issue with the original contractor. I was told this will not significantly delay the project. There will be an interchange with Greasy Creek Road near the end of state maintenance of KY 3226 in the Greasy Creek community.

Shortly beyond this section that will have to be re-bid, construction is going full-blast on another segment. This includes an interchange with Wolfpit Branch Road and the segment ends at a bridge across KY 195. There will be an interchange with KY 195 here. This is the end of current construction, and when I was there yesterday crews were getting ready to put gravel on what will be a detour on KY 195 under the under-construction bridge. Once it is paved, they can start some blasting on the US 460 grade.

Also to be bid before the project is opened is a full interchange between the new route and US 23/119. Originally plans were for an at-grade intersection to be built here, but the concern is that if there is an intersection here, an interchange will never be built so they are going ahead and building a grade-separated interchange.

This portion of the route will open in a couple of years or so to local traffic but will not be signed as US 460 until the connection to Virginia is completed and VDOT finishes their portion. However, this road will serve a large number of families in the rural southern area of Pike County and will cut travel time to Pikeville in half. Even before the road is open to through traffic, it will provide a local benefit.

I did take a few construction photos. Maps and aerial photos can be viewed at http://www.us460online.com/.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.


rickmastfan67

Will it be getting a State Route number till US-460 is put on it?

hbelkins

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on December 05, 2009, 08:38:40 PM
Will it be getting a State Route number till US-460 is put on it?

Most likely, yes. They did this with US 119 in Pike County while only a portion of it was finished and open to traffic.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

Yes, I'm necro-ing. So sue me.  :-D

Drove up to check on construction of the new US 460. The interchange with US 23/119 is complete but is blocked off because a bridge is still not finished on the route. I doubled back and drove up Greasy Creek to see the bridge that is being built (the one referenced above that had to be re-bid) and construction is in full swing. I drove the narrow Greasy Creek and Wolfpit Branch roads down to KY 195. The access road for US 460 and KY 195 is under construction, and clearing has started beyond the overpass where 460 will cross 195.

There is evidence of construction near Elkhorn City along KY 80,and a huge bridge being built over VA Secondary 610. There is a detour in place for VA 80 where a new bridge is being built, presumably to be an access road for Breaks Interstate Park. I'm not sure how far the US 460 construction goes, because there is no evidence of a crossing of VA Secondary 609, which runs from Breaks through Harman to US 460.

Grundy is unrecognizable from the last time I was there. US 460 and VA 83 are routed on a new four-lane that runs to the northeast side of the old road on the side of a hill. There is no longer a set of one-way streets carrying US 460. The portion of Riverside Drive that remains is now Business US 460. At the end of the new four-lane, construction is underway to widen the route out to where the old four-lane began out toward Vansant and the VA 83 split. It mostly follows the existing route but there is one spot where a hillside is being taken down to straighten out a curve.

I don't know what happened to the businesses in downtown Grundy that were demolished. There is a new shopping complex with several shops (Game Stop, Rue 21, Hibbett Sports) and a Walmart Supercenter on the third story of a two-level parking garage.

I think there's enough of interest to do a meet centered on this project, so see the thread I started on the Road Meets board for more information.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins



Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

A ribbon-cutting has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18. After an indoor ceremony, there will be a motorcade to a a ribbon-cutting on the new road, and then it will be open to traffic. Can't find a link to the announcement, but if I find one I will post it.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

seicer

Road, 8 bridges named for locals; Congressman Rogers to keynote

US 460 opening changed to December 18

PIKE COUNTY — December 4, 2014 — The ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the first half of new US 460 has been changed to Thursday, December 18. The event will be held in the gymnasium at Shelby Valley High School at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. This is a ceremony for the people of Pike County as well as those affected by the new highway, especially the following:

The people whose property was acquired to build the road. More than $22.2 million was spent acquiring right of way for the first eight miles of the new highway.

Two young men, Jacob Brandon Rowe and Gary Brent Coleman, who gave their lives in service to this country, and for whom the Kentucky General Assembly named the highway.

· The families of people for whom bridges are named along this eight-mile stretch of the new road.

· Students at Shelby Valley High School and all others whose lives and travel will be impacted by the road.

Keynote speaker for the event is US Congressman Hal Rogers. Governor Steve Beshear is invited to share keynote honors; however, his attendance is not definitely confirmed at this point. Mary Westfall-Holbrook, Chief District Engineer, Highway District 12, will emcee. Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission are expected to attend.

Westfall-Holbrook said that total cost of the first eight miles exceeded $282.5 million. This includes design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction. Cost of the entire 16.7-mile highway is expected to exceed $700 million. Eighty percent of the cost is paid with federal funds; the remaining 20% is funded by the state.

US 460 through Pike County, called Corridor Q in ARC's listing of Appalachian Project Development highways, is a 16.7-mile stretch which runs from US 23 at Sookey's Creek, south of Pikeville, to the Virginia state line near Breaks Interstate Park, where it meets a connector to that state's Coalfields Expressway.

Plans for the Appalachian Corridor System began in the late 1960s, soon after the Appalachian Regional Commission was established by the United States Congress. There are a total of 13 Appalachian states, part or all of which are included in ARC's territory. When US 460 is finished, it will complete the ARC corridor system in Kentucky, which also includes US 23 and US 119. The final section of US 119, from the south side of Pine Mountain in Letcher County to the Harlan County line, is under construction and should be completed before the rest of US 460 is finished.

Among those expected to attend the December 18 ceremony are representatives of Palmer Engineering, the Winchester firm which designed the highway; contractors and sub-contractors whose companies built the road; and members of Steelworkers Local 14581, whose skilled labor and road-building experience have made the roads in Eastern Kentucky among the safest in the nation.

The bridges, which are named by request of either the Pike Fiscal Court or the Kentucky General Assembly, include the following:

Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge — the interchange bridge off US 23 South which serves as the west end entrance to the new highway.

· Jasper and Anna Justice Bridge — this bridge was dedicated last year because of the declining health of some family members. Local family members will be recognized at the December 18 event. Mr. and Mrs. Justice lived near the bridge location, where they owned and operated a community grocery store.

Oliver J. Prater Bridge — Mr. Prater was a World War II US Army veteran who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was later captured by the Japanese and survived the infamous Bataan Death March in the Philippines, where he was held as a prisoner of war for 42 months.

· Miles Justice Mr. Justice lived at Shop Branch, Gardner Fork, where he and his wife reared eight daughters and four sons, all of whom settled in the Greasy Creek and Shelby areas of Pike County. Mr. Justice was an entrepreneur in his community, owning a restaurant, grocery store, and several coal mines. This bridge crosses Greasy Creek at Shop Branch.

· Epling Family Bridge — In honor of John Paul Epling and his family, his late wife, Veronica Johnson Epling, his late son, Ryan Epling, and his son Chris Epling, local artist, author and US Army veteran.

· Silas William Ratliff — Mr. Ratliff was a farmer and businessman who was born on the family homestead, part of which is located on property directly beneath the bridge and ramp on the Wolfpit-Laurel Branch section.

· Andy and Mary Carter Bridge — This is the westbound bridge at Marrowbone, also still under construction. The bridge spans the property which the Carters purchased in 1945 from Eldon Mullins. They lived the remainder of their lives there.

· Eldon and Jollene Mullins Bridge — This bridge is still under construction, but is considered part of the Marrowbone section of the new highway. It spans the property on which Mr. and Mrs. Mullins lived for 53 years, until her death in 2004 and his in 2005. Eldon Mullins was a World War II veteran, a lifelong coal miner, member of the Marrowbone Volunteer Fire Department, Disabled American Veterans, and the United Mine Workers. They were both accomplished bluegrass musicians and vocalists.

· James and Pearlie Prater — The westbound bridge at Greasy Creek is built over what was the Prater Farm, where Mr. and Mrs. Prater lived for 54 years. They ran Prater Grocery Store as well as a blacksmith shop and leather shop. Mr. Prater worked as a coal miner for 45 years, retiring from Republic Steel in 1961.

Following the ceremony, everyone is invited to join a motorcade to the highway for the actual ribbon-cutting, followed by the first official drive through on the new road. Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement officers will escort the motorcade, which will travel eastbound to Marrowbone, turn around, and return on the westbound lanes to US 23.

rickmastfan67

So, according to the PR that Sherman posted, this will be US-460 from the start.  Is this correct HB, or will it still be getting a state number for the time being?

NE2

I don't see how it could be US 460 - there's no suitable way to get back to the current route. KY 195 is the obvious route, but it appears to have some alignment issues.

Quote from: Sherman Cahal on December 05, 2014, 09:11:50 PM
When US 460 is finished, it will complete the ARC corridor system in Kentucky, which also includes US 23 and US 119. The final section of US 119, from the south side of Pine Mountain in Letcher County to the Harlan County line, is under construction and should be completed before the rest of US 460 is finished.
What about through Pine Mountain? http://www.arc.gov/noindex/programs/transp/adhs_status_report_2013/ADHSFY2013StatusReportKentucky.pdf includes it (Oven Fork to Whitesburg).
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

Mapmikey

In May 2014 the Virginia CTB gave a presentation that projected the Virginia relocation of US 460 complete in 2021...

Mapmikey

hbelkins

I checked District 12's site and their Facebook page last night and didn't see the press release. I got it on email at work but never did see it posted anywhere. What Sherman posted is what I received.

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on December 05, 2014, 09:24:51 PM
So, according to the PR that Sherman posted, this will be US-460 from the start.  Is this correct HB, or will it still be getting a state number for the time being?

I don't know. If past history (US 119) is any indication, it'll get a state route designation until it's connected. I can see it becoming US 460 when the route is completed to KY 80 near Elkhorn City, then being routed onto KY 80 back to the current routing at Belcher (existing split of 460 and 80).

I had planned to attend the ribbon-cutting, but the governor is supposed to tour our building that morning to announce the beginning of construction of our new building, and I'll probably have to be present for that. No doubt he'll be flying from appearance to appearance (he's going to do something similar at the District 11 office prior to coming to our office) and there's no feasible way I could drive from Jackson to Shelby Valley to make it in time. I'll have to look to see if I can see a route marker in any of the photos. Or I could just ask someone in Pikeville, I guess...

Quote from: NE2 on December 05, 2014, 09:41:42 PM
What about through Pine Mountain? http://www.arc.gov/noindex/programs/transp/adhs_status_report_2013/ADHSFY2013StatusReportKentucky.pdf includes it (Oven Fork to Whitesburg).

I guess for now, they're considering the 2004-ish rebuild of the existing Pine Mountain crossing (adding truck lanes and widening out some of the hairpin turns) to be sufficient.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

Quote from: rickmastfan67 on December 05, 2014, 09:24:51 PM
So, according to the PR that Sherman posted, this will be US-460 from the start.  Is this correct HB, or will it still be getting a state number for the time being?

Per one of the engineers who was heavily in the project's design, and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, the new road temporarily carries the number KY 3174.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

NE2

Quote from: hbelkins on December 18, 2014, 08:38:12 PM
Per one of the engineers who was heavily in the project's design, and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, the new road temporarily carries the number KY 3174.
I wonder if there's a reason for that number. It was formerly used in Paducah until 2001, apparently for the 9th Street bridge over Island Creek (original US 60).

The number was chosen by 2012: http://transportation.ky.gov/Construction-Procurement/Proposals/102-PIKE-12-1001.pdf (p. 19)
pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

hbelkins

I don't have any idea how numbers are chosen, and when one previously in use comes back into the rotation after it's been used elsewhere.

I might have put KY 978 on it. That road was renumbered a couple of years ago, and there is a KY 979 in the general area.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

Finally got a chance to drive up to Pike County yesterday to check out the new road.

Photos at the Millennium Highway Facebook page for now. (You don't have to be a member of Facebook to view them).



Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Thing 342

Took a trip up to Pikeville the other day as part of a bigger Corridor Q-based trip and drove the entirety of KY-3174 from KY-195 to US-23. Road was nice, but empty, and the 55 mph speed limit seemed way too low (I was doing about 70 with no issues). I can see why the road wasn't signed as US-460, as KY-195 is very twisty and has really low shoulders. I was by myself, so I only managed to get a few photos:

 

Going uphill northbound on KY-3174.



A photo of US-460 from the three-story Walmart in Grundy.

sbeaver44

I could have sworn at one point that Hambley Blvd was signed as US 460 Business in Pikeville.  I see that is no longer the case, or was that just a Google Maps fiction?  If it did exist, was it also any of Business US 23, US 119, or KY 80?  When did it change?

hbelkins

Quote from: sbeaver44 on June 17, 2020, 05:57:24 PM
I could have sworn at one point that Hambley Blvd was signed as US 460 Business in Pikeville.  I see that is no longer the case, or was that just a Google Maps fiction?  If it did exist, was it also any of Business US 23, US 119, or KY 80?  When did it change?

I can't remember it being signed as a business route, and it's now under city maintenance except for either end which connects to the four-lane.

You can see changes to the state highway system in Pike County dating back several years at https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/State%20Primary%20Road%20System%20Lists/Pike.pdf.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

sbeaver44


hbelkins

Quote from: hbelkins on June 18, 2020, 04:12:12 PM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on June 17, 2020, 05:57:24 PM
I could have sworn at one point that Hambley Blvd was signed as US 460 Business in Pikeville.  I see that is no longer the case, or was that just a Google Maps fiction?  If it did exist, was it also any of Business US 23, US 119, or KY 80?  When did it change?

I can't remember it being signed as a business route, and it's now under city maintenance except for either end which connects to the four-lane.

You can see changes to the state highway system in Pike County dating back several years at https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/State%20Primary%20Road%20System%20Lists/Pike.pdf.

After having said this, I remembered that I think perhaps at one time, what is now KY 1460 and KY 1426 on the east and south sides of the old riverbank may have been signed as Bypass US 23 (and maybe 460 and 80 as well.) US 119 followed the route of KY 1426 from the northeast. The spot where US 119 intersected the other three routes is now the intersection of KY 1426 and KY 1460.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

Announced today -- the new section of US 460 between KY 80 and the Virginia state line will open on Nov. 16. I don't know what numbering will be applied to the road, but since it connects to VA 80 on the other side of the state line, I'm guessing KY 80 for now with the US 460 designation not coming until the entire route is finished.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Mapmikey

Quote from: hbelkins on October 29, 2020, 05:55:07 PM
Announced today -- the new section of US 460 between KY 80 and the Virginia state line will open on Nov. 16. I don't know what numbering will be applied to the road, but since it connects to VA 80 on the other side of the state line, I'm guessing KY 80 for now with the US 460 designation not coming until the entire route is finished.

I'm curious if the old VA 80 will remain in the primary system as 80 Bus for Elkhorn City or some other designation.

hbelkins

Quote from: Mapmikey on October 29, 2020, 07:49:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 29, 2020, 05:55:07 PM
Announced today -- the new section of US 460 between KY 80 and the Virginia state line will open on Nov. 16. I don't know what numbering will be applied to the road, but since it connects to VA 80 on the other side of the state line, I'm guessing KY 80 for now with the US 460 designation not coming until the entire route is finished.

I'm curious if the old VA 80 will remain in the primary system as 80 Bus for Elkhorn City or some other designation.

I'll try to get down there sometime after it opens and see how it's signed. I know the other end of the route, between KY 195 and US 23, is signed KY 3174.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Bitmapped

Quote from: hbelkins on October 30, 2020, 09:57:48 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on October 29, 2020, 07:49:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 29, 2020, 05:55:07 PM
Announced today -- the new section of US 460 between KY 80 and the Virginia state line will open on Nov. 16. I don't know what numbering will be applied to the road, but since it connects to VA 80 on the other side of the state line, I'm guessing KY 80 for now with the US 460 designation not coming until the entire route is finished.

I'm curious if the old VA 80 will remain in the primary system as 80 Bus for Elkhorn City or some other designation.

I'll try to get down there sometime after it opens and see how it's signed. I know the other end of the route, between KY 195 and US 23, is signed KY 3174.

Is KYTC wedded to the idea of KY 80 running border to border? If not, in the long term, it would make sense to truncate KY 80 at where it joins US 23/US 460.

I don't see a compelling reason for a Business 80 at Elkhorn City. Extend KY 197 out to the future US 460. For now, it probably makes sense to move KY 80/VA 80 onto the new road even if it gets rolled back in a couple years.

hbelkins

Quote from: Bitmapped on November 01, 2020, 11:53:57 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 30, 2020, 09:57:48 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on October 29, 2020, 07:49:04 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 29, 2020, 05:55:07 PM
Announced today -- the new section of US 460 between KY 80 and the Virginia state line will open on Nov. 16. I don't know what numbering will be applied to the road, but since it connects to VA 80 on the other side of the state line, I'm guessing KY 80 for now with the US 460 designation not coming until the entire route is finished.

I'm curious if the old VA 80 will remain in the primary system as 80 Bus for Elkhorn City or some other designation.

I'll try to get down there sometime after it opens and see how it's signed. I know the other end of the route, between KY 195 and US 23, is signed KY 3174.

Is KYTC wedded to the idea of KY 80 running border to border? If not, in the long term, it would make sense to truncate KY 80 at where it joins US 23/US 460.

I don't see a compelling reason for a Business 80 at Elkhorn City. Extend KY 197 out to the future US 460. For now, it probably makes sense to move KY 80/VA 80 onto the new road even if it gets rolled back in a couple years.

My guess is that when the four-lane US 460 is finally finished, the current two-lane remains KY 80 from Shelbiana to the state line, and US 460 alone goes on the new alignment. But since it's obvious that Kentucky will get the route finished between Pikeville and the state line before Virginia gets it finished on to Grundy, they might do the reverse for awhile -- sign KY 80 on the four-lane that will end at Breaks, and keep US 460 on the two-lane that goes to Grundy. Then when Virginia finishes its portion, flip the designations.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.



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