KY: US 60 westbound widening in Hancock County progressing

Started by jnewkirk77, August 22, 2024, 01:35:02 AM

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jnewkirk77

From Owensboro's Messenger-Inquirer comes a short video highlighting the ongoing work to widen US 60 westbound between Lewisport and Hawesville, Ky.

While 60 has been a four-lane road through Hancock County since the late 1970s, the westbound carriageway reused the original road built in the 1930s. As traffic increased with the industrial growth of the county, so did the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities.  Discussions about widening the road have been ongoing for at least the past couple of decades.

The M-I reports the 3.6-mile project will be completed in November.


seicer

The original road was built in 1921 and 1930 from what I can tell from looking at KYTC's Project Archives. The widening west of Hawesville was completed around 1983, with the eastbound lanes opening around 1979. At the least, they added right-of-way control, which hadn't existed before. That concrete pavement has held up exceptionally well.

Kentucky has very few of this style of highway construction. A portion of US 23 near Greenup was widened similarly, but the differences were not as stark. Meanwhile, it looks like the original lanes of US 60 had nine-foot lanes (https://maps.app.goo.gl/k51P2EKoyQXWtJns6).

jnewkirk77

Quote from: seicer on August 22, 2024, 09:44:24 AMThe original road was built in 1921 and 1930 from what I can tell from looking at KYTC's Project Archives. The widening west of Hawesville was completed around 1983, with the eastbound lanes opening around 1979. At the least, they added right-of-way control, which hadn't existed before. That concrete pavement has held up exceptionally well.

Kentucky has very few of this style of highway construction. A portion of US 23 near Greenup was widened similarly, but the differences were not as stark. Meanwhile, it looks like the original lanes of US 60 had nine-foot lanes (https://maps.app.goo.gl/k51P2EKoyQXWtJns6).

Yup, 9 foot lanes. Passing anything bigger than another car was something of an art form, if you felt brave ... or lucky.

That ridge between the two carriageways in the Google Street View has been eliminated. It was mostly sandstone.

seicer

At that curve especially! I'm surprised they aren't reconstructing all of the original lanes to Lewisport which looks like will still be at its original profile and width.

jnewkirk77

Quote from: seicer on August 22, 2024, 04:35:06 PMAt that curve especially! I'm surprised they aren't reconstructing all of the original lanes to Lewisport which looks like will still be at its original profile and width.

It's coming. The current SYP has the Lewisport-to-KY 1957 section going to construction in the '27 fiscal year (which starts 7/1/26, as I recall), so construction will probably start a couple of years from now.

Stephane Dumas

Is there any long-range plans to widen US-60 between Lewisport and US-231?

jnewkirk77

#6
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on August 23, 2024, 06:29:36 AMIs there any long-range plans to widen US-60 between Lewisport and US-231?

It isn't in the current Six Year Plan, although it probably needs to be. The AADT is 8-9,000 VPD between Maceo and Lewisport, which is high for a two-lane.

As you can see from this Google Maps view, the Maceo bypass was built with the intention of the four-lane being extended.

jnewkirk77

Just a little update on this: Westbound traffic was supposed to be on the new lanes by Nov. 15, but that didn't happen, and as of today (Nov. 29) things are still not open. However, most if not all of the new signage is up, and a base layer of pavement is on.

A recent Hancock Clarion article indicated the roadway might open on that base layer, with the final surface to be applied in the spring.

If that is indeed the case, it would surprise me if the road isn't open within the first week of December.  Temporary striping could be laid within a day or 2 on that length of road.

jnewkirk77

Temporary striping was being placed on the base layer after noon yesterday (Wednesday 12/4/24), and most of the heavy equipment was on trailers to be removed. I'll be shocked if it's not open by the end of the work week; basically all that's left is to move the barriers at each end.

jnewkirk77

Fresh from KYTC-D2 to my inbox this morning: It's open!

Westbound U.S. 60 Reopened in Hancock County
Final paving scheduled for Spring 2025

MADISONVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2024) – Traffic in the U.S. 60 construction zone in Hancock County has shifted this week as contractors for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet move into the winter phase of the project.

Both westbound lanes of U.S. 60, which have been restricted to the left lane of the eastbound side of the highway since construction began earlier this year, are now open to traffic. One lane restriction remains in place, with the left lane being blocked near the intersection of U.S. 60 and KY 3543.

Traffic on eastbound U.S. 60 will remain restricted to just one lane while work is completed on that side of the highway.

Final paving of the project area is scheduled for the spring of 2025.

hbelkins

I got my courtesy copy of that release this morning and was going to post the news here, but I see you beat me to it.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jnewkirk77

#11
I drove the newly-opened section on Friday. Here's the 5-minute ride-along!


JREwing78

Is there some kind of long-range plan to complete a 4-lane US-60 between Owensboro and US-31W near Fort Knox?

It appears KYTC could cut at least 20 miles off the section between Cloverport and Irvington with a direct route, though the terrain is pretty hilly for the area.

seicer

Some thoughts:
  • The reconstructed roadway looks much better. But it's interesting they went with a 4' shoulder throughout instead of the standard 8' shoulder typically used on primary routes. KYTC has been using a 4' shoulder standard on rural roads for a while now, and while I agree with that, on primary routes, the 4' hard shoulder should be complimented with a 4' soft shoulder.
  • Old district signing standards left a lot to be desired. It seems that they are now adopting signage standards used in central Kentucky - larger signs with posts mounted into concrete.
  • Are there plans to extend the reconstruction west? The project dumps you back onto two 9' lanes and it's still incredibly narrow.

hbelkins

Quote from: JREwing78 on December 21, 2024, 09:47:45 PMIs there some kind of long-range plan to complete a 4-lane US-60 between Owensboro and US-31W near Fort Knox?

It appears KYTC could cut at least 20 miles off the section between Cloverport and Irvington with a direct route, though the terrain is pretty hilly for the area.

Not really necessary. The segment from Hawesville east to Fort Knox is of newer vintage, with passing lanes in places and clear sight lines.

If I'm going to Owensboro, I much prefer taking existing US 60 vs. either the parkways or I-64/US 231 through Indiana. Extending KY 313 from I-65 to the Bluegrass Parkway would be nice, though.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jnewkirk77

#15
Quote from: seicer on December 22, 2024, 11:28:08 AMSome thoughts:
  • The reconstructed roadway looks much better. But it's interesting they went with a 4' shoulder throughout instead of the standard 8' shoulder typically used on primary routes. KYTC has been using a 4' shoulder standard on rural roads for a while now, and while I agree with that, on primary routes, the 4' hard shoulder should be complimented with a 4' soft shoulder.
  • Old district signing standards left a lot to be desired. It seems that they are now adopting signage standards used in central Kentucky - larger signs with posts mounted into concrete.
  • Are there plans to extend the reconstruction west? The project dumps you back onto two 9' lanes and it's still incredibly narrow.


District 2 signing in general, until very recently, has sucked. There's no sugar coating that. This project is the first I know of here to have what I consider really good signage. It could be better, but this is a start.

I'm not sure why they went with narrower shoulders. There's plenty of room for more width; the median is very wide in most places.

The current Six Year Plan has construction from KY 1957 to Lewisport set for FY 2027 (which starts 7/1/2026).



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