KY: Feasibility study planned for possible I-165 interchange in Daviess Co.

Started by jnewkirk77, January 20, 2025, 06:25:00 AM

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jnewkirk77

The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reported over the weekend that the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) is preparing to conduct a feasibility study to add a new interchange on I-165 in southern Daviess County. (article behind paywall)

I-165 has one of the longest stretches in Kentucky between interchanges, with 23 miles between KY 69 (Exit 47) and US 60/231 (Exit 70). The potential new interchange would be near the community of Masonville.

Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen supports the idea of the new interchange, saying it is needed from a safety standpoint, as the local fire department which handles emergency response must now go up US 231 to US 60, then east to the interstate and south to wherever the emergency might be. Just in Castlen's two-year stint as Judge-Executive, several serious accidents have taken place on the roadway, and, as he explains, "sometimes you may have a serious injury, and the minutes matter."

KYTC has included funding for study of a new interchange in the present Six Year Plan. What sort of timeline such a study and potential construction might require isn't yet known.


Life in Paradise

Quote from: jnewkirk77 on January 20, 2025, 06:25:00 AMThe Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reported over the weekend that the Green River Area Development District (GRADD) is preparing to conduct a feasibility study to add a new interchange on I-165 in southern Daviess County. (article behind paywall)

I-165 has one of the longest stretches in Kentucky between interchanges, with 23 miles between KY 69 (Exit 47) and US 60/231 (Exit 70). The potential new interchange would be near the community of Masonville.

Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen supports the idea of the new interchange, saying it is needed from a safety standpoint, as the local fire department which handles emergency response must now go up US 231 to US 60, then east to the interstate and south to wherever the emergency might be. Just in Castlen's two-year stint as Judge-Executive, several serious accidents have taken place on the roadway, and, as he explains, "sometimes you may have a serious injury, and the minutes matter."

KYTC has included funding for study of a new interchange in the present Six Year Plan. What sort of timeline such a study and potential construction might require isn't yet known.

That makes sense as Owensboro spreads out east and south east.  Even could put one at KY 764 as well.  When this went in as a toll road, you limit access points since you need to make ways for tolls to be collected.  Now, the road is to help to service local traffic as well.

Stephane Dumas

My guess where this future interchange could be located is where KY-142 go over I-165.

Another location where I could imagine another future interchange on I-165 but it's outside of Daviess County is at US-62 near Beaver Dam.

Rothman

Been a while since I've been there, but hard to believe and yet a welcome fact that Owensboro is spreading/growing, if true.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

jnewkirk77

Quote from: Rothman on January 20, 2025, 02:35:57 PMBeen a while since I've been there, but hard to believe and yet a welcome fact that Owensboro is spreading/growing, if true.

It's a slow growth, but yes, the Owensboro area is growing. The population of Daviess County is around 103,000 now.  There's been substantial residential growth south of town around Masonville, and of course the Highway 54 area is where most new businesses are going in; I just noticed Publix has a sign up for their forthcoming new store.

Ellis Park (owned by Churchill Downs) is getting ready to open their new gaming facility off of US 60/231 northeast of town next month, too. I expect that will be a pretty big draw.

hbelkins

KYTC has added several interchanges to the former toll roads since the tolls were taken off, including one on the Green River Natcher I-165 at KY 70 near Morgantown. I'm surprised an exit between Hartford/Beaver Dam and Owensboro hasn't been added by now. Heck, the Mountain Parkway had an exit added in the middle of nowhere in Clark County.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jnewkirk77

Quote from: hbelkins on January 20, 2025, 06:34:11 PMKYTC has added several interchanges to the former toll roads since the tolls were taken off, including one on the Green River Natcher I-165 at KY 70 near Morgantown. I'm surprised an exit between Hartford/Beaver Dam and Owensboro hasn't been added by now. Heck, the Mountain Parkway had an exit added in the middle of nowhere in Clark County.

I've lived in Daviess County for nearly 25 years, and it's been almost comical to watch local leaders try (and fail) to get boondoggles like the proposed "outer loop" off the ground while ignoring the obvious, easier stuff like this.  There's an obvious need for it, and it shouldn't be all that expensive to build, considering the overpass is already there -- if they go with KY 142, anyway.

The Ghostbuster

If an interchange is built at KY 142, it would be numbered Exit 63. In order to avoid the residences in the southwest corner of the potential interchange, they would probably build diamond ramps northbound, and a cloverleaf on-ramp southbound with an accompanying off-ramp.

hbelkins

Quote from: jnewkirk77 on January 21, 2025, 07:28:11 AMI've lived in Daviess County for nearly 25 years, and it's been almost comical to watch local leaders try (and fail) to get boondoggles like the proposed "outer loop" off the ground while ignoring the obvious, easier stuff like this.  There's an obvious need for it, and it shouldn't be all that expensive to build, considering the overpass is already there -- if they go with KY 142, anyway.

Except KYTC has this annoying habit of tearing down and replacing bridges when they build new interchanges, costing even more money.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jnewkirk77

Quote from: hbelkins on January 21, 2025, 04:48:48 PM
Quote from: jnewkirk77 on January 21, 2025, 07:28:11 AMI've lived in Daviess County for nearly 25 years, and it's been almost comical to watch local leaders try (and fail) to get boondoggles like the proposed "outer loop" off the ground while ignoring the obvious, easier stuff like this.  There's an obvious need for it, and it shouldn't be all that expensive to build, considering the overpass is already there -- if they go with KY 142, anyway.

Except KYTC has this annoying habit of tearing down and replacing bridges when they build new interchanges, costing even more money.

Fair point. And they very well might need to do it there; on looking at the 142 overpass again, it is mighty narrow, so there may be a need to widen it.

jnewkirk77

Daviess County Fiscal Court on Tuesday voted to set aside $40,000 for the feasibility study. One commissioner voted against the move, claiming (falsely) that the proposed interchange would be the start of a new "outer loop" that was shot down by public opinion a couple of years ago.

Another commissioner argued in favor of the interchange by pointing to a recent fatal accident on the highway in which it took 24 minutes for first responders from nearby Masonville to reach the scene.

For the first time, officials specified a location they're most interested in - where KY 142 crosses the Interstate just east of US 231.

The county's move to fund the study means it now heads to KYTC, which will hire a consulting firm to do the job.

More details from the Owensboro Times here.

ITB


jnewkirk77

Quote from: ITB on February 05, 2025, 05:41:03 PM

Thank you for sharing that. I knew they were posting it but didn't have time to grab it before you did. It's a good "explainer" on how this part of the process works.



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