I created this topic to update on the northern bypass of Somerset, witch was supposed to be built starting this year, but I'm not sure as I have not been in Shopville in a while. https://somersetkyleads.com/speda-touchstone-energy-lead-interstate-65-spur-project/ The link takes you to a page that states that the Louie B Nunn Parkway would become a spur of I65, most likely I365, before I66.
Quote from: KentuckyParkways on June 18, 2020, 02:14:04 AM
I created this topic to update on the northern bypass of Somerset, witch was supposed to be built starting this year, but I'm not sure as I have not been in Shopville in a while. https://somersetkyleads.com/speda-touchstone-energy-lead-interstate-65-spur-project/ The link takes you to a page that states that the Louie B Nunn Parkway would become a spur of I65, most likely I365, before I66.
I-66 was originally proposed, but from what I've seen, officials have pretty much scrapped the I-66 concept in favor of converting Kentucky's parkways into a bunch of 3-digit interstate spurs, save for I-69.
Except for the fact that the road doesn't really go anywhere (destination wise), they could have tagged the Audubon, Natcher, and Nunn parkways with a two digit, and it probably would have flown, since it did in North Carolina. Available in grid twos would have been 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62. You would have had an nice connection between Henderson Ky and London KY (with the extension from Somerset). It would have made the former Owensboro, KY mayor quite happy to have a 2-di go around his town.
Quote from: abqtraveler on June 18, 2020, 09:18:44 AM
Quote from: KentuckyParkways on June 18, 2020, 02:14:04 AM
I created this topic to update on the northern bypass of Somerset, witch was supposed to be built starting this year, but I'm not sure as I have not been in Shopville in a while. https://somersetkyleads.com/speda-touchstone-energy-lead-interstate-65-spur-project/ The link takes you to a page that states that the Louie B Nunn Parkway would become a spur of I65, most likely I365, before I66.
I-66 was originally proposed, but from what I've seen, officials have pretty much scrapped the I-66 concept in favor of converting Kentucky's parkways into a bunch of 3-digit interstate spurs, save for I-69.
Yeah...McConnell and his crack team of researchers (or is that researchers on crack?) did no one any favors by floating I-569 for the WKY between I-69 and I-165 (question: why did they stop there?). This has been discussed in another thread, but quite a few folks think a I-71 extension (with a Louisville-Elizabethtown multiplex with I-65) down that way would be optimal, drawing long-distance traffic from the I-69 corridor. As far as the Bluegrass is concerned, until some actual plans for a connection to I-64 and/or I-75 are afoot (yeah, right!), just make it I-365 or another appropriately-numbered spur.
Quote from: Life in Paradise on June 18, 2020, 01:44:13 PM
Except for the fact that the road doesn't really go anywhere (destination wise), they could have tagged the Audubon, Natcher, and Nunn parkways with a two digit, and it probably would have flown, since it did in North Carolina. Available in grid twos would have been 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62. You would have had an nice connection between Henderson Ky and London KY (with the extension from Somerset). It would have made the former Owensboro, KY mayor quite happy to have a 2-di go around his town.
Not too shabby of an idea -- I'd do I-54 for that one. But it seems KY politicos just aren't terribly imaginative when it comes to such things -- or simply not knowledgeable about Interstate numbering, preferring to take the path of least thoughtfulness and place a third-digit prefix as a default. Sometimes that works (e.g. I-169 on the Pennyrile), but often it's the least useful approach.
No other state has an appetite for I-66, so the project appears to be dead at a national level.
I also don't know how much political will exists in Kentucky to build the extension all the way to I-75. There was opposition to the original I-66 proposal on environmental concerns.
Quote from: tidecat on June 21, 2020, 09:48:46 AM
No other state has an appetite for I-66, so the project appears to be dead at a national level.
I also don't know how much political will exists in Kentucky to build the extension all the way to I-75. There was opposition to the original I-66 proposal on environmental concerns.
Apparently the original selected "I-66" alignment (circa 2004 or so) from Somerset to London dipped to the south more or less along KY 192 in order to serve the recreational areas at Laurel River Lake, and that alignment passed through some karst formations, resulting in environmental concerns and opposition. AFAIK an alternate alignment for those 30-odd miles, possibly more along KY 80, has yet to be finalized. At this point it's more of an extension to the Cumberland/Nunn parkway than a future Interstate alignment portion of a larger corridor -- even with renewed interest in upgrading the Hal Rogers parkway to the east -- so it's likely to be treated as such rather than the national-interest corridor envisioned by some parties. Since other plans have been made for the potential I-66 paths west of I-65 -- and so far nothing right along KY 80/US 68 has materialized, replaced by an ongoing expressway upgrade of KY 80 west as far as Mayfield, a full cross-state alignment consensus hasn't been reached. So absent coordinated efforts to develop the whole corridor, a conceptual I-66 is at best dormant.
The traffic volumes along KY 80 between London and Somerset don't warrant four lanes, much less a full freeway. There are passing lanes on the hills and traffic moves very well at 55 mph or greater.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 22, 2020, 01:18:42 PM
The traffic volumes along KY 80 between London and Somerset don't warrant four lanes, much less a full freeway. There are passing lanes on the hills and traffic moves very well at 55 mph or greater.
KY-80 carries between 7,000 and 9,000 AADT. Widening will likely eventually come about as funding is enabled. Other routes with those volumes have seen 4 lane widening, especially on a rural long-distance corridor. If an interstate highway is desired, it will likely be designed to accommodate interchanges, overpasses, and frontage roads, either immediately or right of way for future build.
Kind of off topic but what are the numbers for Ky 461 that's the most direct way from the north on I-75?
SM-G950U
Quote from: tidecat on June 21, 2020, 09:48:46 AM
No other state has an appetite for I-66, so the project appears to be dead at a national level.
I also don't know how much political will exists in Kentucky to build the extension all the way to I-75. There was opposition to the original I-66 proposal on environmental concerns.
If I-66 were to be revived, a way should have been found to connect it somehow with the pieces of discontinuous limited access/pseudo expressway routes in West Virginia. Corridor H, King Coal, Coalfields, etc to make it a more logical and useful route. At least part of one of them. Something that might have attracted some regional traffic. Am guessing the two states KY/WV did not plan together to come up with something more encompassing.
In the west, believe the original idea was to connect it to I-24 so it could cross into Missouri and make use of an upgraded US-60. Some overlay/paralleling of existing US 68 and state route 80. Am guessing a route N of, skirting Bowling Green and through Hopkinsville would be very very difficult.
Quote from: DJStephens on June 24, 2020, 07:30:37 PM
Quote from: tidecat on June 21, 2020, 09:48:46 AM
No other state has an appetite for I-66, so the project appears to be dead at a national level.
I also don't know how much political will exists in Kentucky to build the extension all the way to I-75. There was opposition to the original I-66 proposal on environmental concerns.
If I-66 were to be revived, a way should have been found to connect it somehow with the pieces of discontinuous limited access/pseudo expressway routes in West Virginia. Corridor H, King Coal, Coalfields, etc to make it a more logical and useful route. At least part of one of them. Something that might have attracted some regional traffic. Am guessing the two states KY/WV did not plan together to come up with something more encompassing.
In the west, believe the original idea was to connect it to I-24 so it could cross into Missouri and make use of an upgraded US-60. Some overlay/paralleling of existing US 68 and state route 80. Am guessing a route N of, skirting Bowling Green and through Hopkinsville would be very very difficult.
The west end of the I-66 KY proposal had several options built in; the legal language did specify Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, and Benton as served towns -- but speculation as to exact alignment centered on, from south to north --
(1) Remaining on KY 80 (US 68) west of Bowling Green, upgrading the expressway as far west as Mayfield, then shooting WNW along KY 121 to a Mississippi River crossing near Wickliffe.
(2) Much the same, but shifting north via US 68 near Aurora to access Benton, then using I-69 north to I-24 and I-24 west to Paducah before heading west via US 62 and KY 286 to, again, Wickliffe and a Mississippi River crossing.
(3) Same route on its eastern end, but shifting to a multiplex with I-24 from the KY 80 interchange to Paducah.
(4) An all-parkway route west to I-24: north on the Natcher and west on WKY.
Since an agreement was never reached, the conceptual project simply dissipated; except for the KY 80-based options, the various parkways have gained alternate designations that would now require extensive multiplexes or renumberings. Then southern IL interests poked their heads into the matter, suggesting a connection between I-24 and Cape Girardeau, MO as their I-66 routing of choice (guess some parties
really wanted to return the fabled number 66 to the state); all that did was to further muddy the waters, so to speak. Continuing/reviving I-66 certainly doesn't seem to evoke much in-state interest, much less prioritization except for occasional sabre-rattling from various quarters trying to elicit political capital. The "Future I-66 Corridor" signs on the Cumberland will likely be the only visible indication that the potential Interstate was once a viable concept.
^ I seem to recall (and it is probably even in an old thread on this forum) that the I-66 corridor was pretty much nailed down to a northern bypass of Bowling Green (which IMHO would be nice to have without any other I-66 improvements) and then using the Natcher and Western Kentucky Parkways over to I-24. The section that seemed up in the air was from I-24 around Paducah to I-55 in Missouri, with a routing over towards Cairo usually being favored but some off and on interest in an Illinois corridor.
Quote from: Revive 755 on June 25, 2020, 09:53:54 PM
^ I seem to recall (and it is probably even in an old thread on this forum) that the I-66 corridor was pretty much nailed down to a northern bypass of Bowling Green (which IMHO would be nice to have without any other I-66 improvements) and then using the Natcher and Western Kentucky Parkways over to I-24. The section that seemed up in the air was from I-24 around Paducah to I-55 in Missouri, with a routing over towards Cairo usually being favored but some off and on interest in an Illinois corridor.
Yeah -- it seemed as if that section in far west KY was always in contention among those towns and regions wanting a piece of the action. In reality, any scuttlebutt around this has been pretty silent since southern IL interests floated the Cape Girardeau crossing about 4-5 years back. Getting I-69 extended via parkway upgrades seems to have taken the air out of the sails for other corridor activities in that neck of the woods. Also, the designation/signing of I-165 on the Natcher has effectively ignored the previous plan to bypass Bowling Green and use the parkway system as a I-66 pathway. And since neither WV nor MO have formally adopted any I-66-related alignments within their states, any action would be unilaterally KY's. That's a lot of obstacles to overcome/bypass for a corridor that but for a few legislative lines hasn't gotten much attention in the last decade. It's going to take a ton of political will to revive the corridor concept -- even as simply a connector between I-65 and I-75; anything beyond that -- at least for the foreseeable future -- would require something resembling a miracle!
Remember the debate on running I-66 down I-64, the Bluegrass, and WK parkways vs. Daniel Boone Hal Rogers and Cumberland? Can't remember the website that had all the High Priority Corridors listed, but it had links to (probably now expired) and snippets from various news stories.
^ Coincidentally, it was an old AARoads page that highlighted all those High Priority Corridors.
Quote from: froggie on June 27, 2020, 10:35:42 AM
^ Coincidentally, it was an old AARoads page that highlighted all those High Priority Corridors.
And back when it was known as Andy's Highway kick-off page with parts located on Geocities and Xoom.
Quote from: hbelkins on June 26, 2020, 06:18:39 PM
Remember the debate on running I-66 down I-64, the Bluegrass, and WK parkways vs. Daniel Boone Hal Rogers and Cumberland? Can't remember the website that had all the High Priority Corridors listed, but it had links to (probably now expired) and snippets from various news stories.
It was on AARoads. That was partially why I retired it, too many dead links to keep up with, let alone ones going to URLs with expired domains.
I have the files backed up on disc and one of my external hard drives.
Quote from: froggie on June 27, 2020, 10:35:42 AM
^ Coincidentally, it was an old AARoads page that highlighted all those High Priority Corridors.
Andy ran out of time to update those after 2005. They were all researched and compiled up by him from 1997 onward. When I finally took the pages down, they were extremely out of date.
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on June 27, 2020, 05:55:56 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 27, 2020, 10:35:42 AM
^ Coincidentally, it was an old AARoads page that highlighted all those High Priority Corridors.
And back when it was known as Andy's Highway kick-off page with parts located on Geocities and Xoom.
The kick off page was an index of road related web pages Andy compiled that we kept updating over the years. By the time I decided to take it down, most of the pages created by road enthusiasts were dead or had not been updated in years.
If there was a Kickoff Page now, it would just be a redundant list of Wikipedia links after Steve Anderson's pages, vahighways, cahighways and the few others still actively maintained.
its been years since i been up that way, not since 03.
however, i don't think a freeway is really needed, freeways are made for much higher traffic counts. yes it would make it easier to drive along the mountainous terrain but i doubt the region to region traffic is there. even if the AADT for KY-80 is 7-9k. the only need for a freeway in that neck of the woods is if they are planning ahead for a major redevelopment project in eastern kentucky, as eastern kentucky has been kentuckys most impoverished area of the state, which then it may make more sense, assuming the project is successful. :rolleyes:
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Are there any plans to complete the Somerset Northern Bypass from US 27 to the junction of KY 80 and KY 461 in the near future?
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:51:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why not go through every single one?
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on March 19, 2023, 05:47:36 PM
Are there any plans to complete the Somerset Northern Bypass from US 27 to the junction of KY 80 and KY 461 in the near future?
The design of the KY 80/KY 461 interchange that's currently under construction is done the way it is specifically for this possibility.
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 06:11:55 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:51:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why not go through every single one?
So traffic not destined for that town / city doesn't have to slog through everyone? The highway should pass near the towns and have interchanges or at minimum turn off points, but allow through traffic to continue unimpeded.
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:15:41 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 06:11:55 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:51:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why not go through every single one?
So traffic not destined for that town / city doesn't have to slog through everyone?
Sounds like traffic volumes would be taken into account.
Not saying they don't... at all. I'm saying they don't need to be "high" traffic counts.
I'm not going to keep going back and forth anymore... the point is made.
the biggest problem with the concept of I-66 to WV is the poverty rate and crime rate most counties between I-75 and the kentucky/WV border have. very dangerous and impoverished territory, on top of mountainous terrain.
as for the somerset northern bypass, i doubt a freeway is really needed from somerset to london, a 4 lane divided highway sure, but a freeway is basically overkill. hell i doubt a freeway is really needed from bowling green to london, based on 2 factors: local economic need and traffic counts. i should've been more clearer in my original post so im sorry for the confusion, but i don't see much economic need over there that warrants a freeway, let alone the AADT. just seems excessive to me.
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 06:11:55 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:51:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why not go through every single one?
Because people don't like their homes and businesses being taken by eminent domain and torn down. It's also usually less costly to go around a town than through it.
Quote from: skluth on March 21, 2023, 11:42:16 AM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 06:11:55 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:51:38 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 05:31:35 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 05:15:48 PM
Quote from: Rothman on March 19, 2023, 03:54:25 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on March 19, 2023, 11:39:04 AM
So what do you propose? No bypass?
Freeways are not simply based off traffic volumes. And freeways aside, the need for a bypass isn't strictly "high traffic volumes" .
Makes me wonder what other needs would justify a bypass.
A routing that is designed to carry regional traffic (i.e. origin/destination outside the town). A bypass can be as little as a super-two with at-grade intersections. Something that routes through traffic around a population center.
Why would you need to route regional traffic around a population center?
Because it is through traffic?
Take a look at a route like US-58 across southern Virginia. Why does it bypass most of the towns / cities on the route? Should it just go through every single one?
It's an arterial highway routing with high capacity... 4 lanes with town bypasses. The principle is no different here. Unless you're trying to suggest this is a useless project and useless approach... then in that case ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why not go through every single one?
Because people don't like their homes and businesses being taken by eminent domain and torn down. It's also usually less costly to go around a town than through it.
Wait, why are we widening the road through town?
(Or, perhaps you should read the context of a conversation before jumping in...)
i wonder if theres been a update on the somerset northern bypass? its been 10 months
Since the Interstate 66 extension died in 2015, shouldn't the subject heading be changed? Since the Cumberland Parkway is planned to become Interstate 365, I changed it to that.
Quote from: civilengineeringnerd on January 25, 2024, 04:21:24 AM
i wonder if theres been a update on the somerset northern bypass? its been 10 months
No mention of it in the recommended six-year highway plan.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 25, 2024, 01:22:42 PM
Quote from: civilengineeringnerd on January 25, 2024, 04:21:24 AM
i wonder if theres been a update on the somerset northern bypass? its been 10 months
No mention of it in the recommended six-year highway plan.
that kinda sucks, i was hoping they'd complete the section in somerset thats a gap
Quote from: civilengineeringnerd on January 28, 2024, 10:50:27 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 25, 2024, 01:22:42 PM
Quote from: civilengineeringnerd on January 25, 2024, 04:21:24 AM
i wonder if theres been a update on the somerset northern bypass? its been 10 months
No mention of it in the recommended six-year highway plan.
that kinda sucks, i was hoping they'd complete the section in somerset thats a gap
They will. All you have to do is look at the reconfigured KY 80/KY 461 intersection to know that it's going to be done.
The earmark by Hal Rogers was only for $45 million. The groundbreaking for the east junction was started immediately.
I can't see exactly how much the Somerset Bypass actually cost, but seeing the amount of land cut required I am sure it will be above the benchmark.
Also, it seems the neighbors over in Harlan aren't so happy about all this spend going into Somerset.
As noted here:
https://www.harlanenterprise.net/2023/08/04/henson-another-somerset-project-reminds-us-harlan-county-still-being-left-behind/
There's nothing like a news report late in the evening on Congressman Hal Rogers celebrating another bypass construction in Pulaski County to make me start throwing things at my television and wondering why Harlan Countians continue to vote for him when it's been clear for decades he doesn't care we've been left behind for the past 60 years or so. Rogers was in his native Somerset for the ribbon-cutting of the KY 461 and KY 80 interchange project as cars zoomed past on what seems like the 10th new road in the area. While Harlan County, once the largest county in all of eastern Kentucky, still doesn't have a four-lane road, Rogers was already talking about another project for Pulaski County. A news release from Rogers stated the congressman "has requested $45 million in Community Project Funding to begin construction on the highly anticipated northern bypass in Pulaski County. Rogers made the announcement during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new KY 461 and KY 80 interchange project with the Kentucky Department of Transportation and local leaders." "The interchange at KY 461 and KY 80 is a stamp of economic success and growth for southern and eastern Kentucky, but we're far from finished," he said. "We have another mountain before us to build the northern bypass in Pulaski County, and I was proud to request the federal funding on behalf of the Pulaski County Fiscal Court to begin the next phase of this greater vision, which will connect to the Cumberland Expressway." "Southern Kentucky needs a four-lane highway that runs east to west, attracting new business and tourism dollars through the most beautiful parts of our state," said Rogers in the report. "We are making significant progress towards that goal as we continue strategic planning across the federal, state and local levels." State legislators have also included a $1 million study in the six-year road plan to four-lane the Hal Rogers Parkway from London to Hazard. The study is slated to begin in 2024, according to the report. In 2021, Congressman Rogers also secured an $8 million earmark to help four-lane KY 461 in Rockcastle County from Highway 150 to I-75. Construction on that project is scheduled to begin in 2024. The list goes on and on, but no mention of Harlan County. It just drives me insane that our state legislators and county leaders aren't complaining every month or so and demanding that Harlan County get its turn —whether it be a four-lane U.S. 119 to Pineville or a new U.S. 421 between Harlan and Hazard. Harlan County waited 25 years for news that the final 3.1 miles of road to Virginia to be completed, then we celebrated when the news came out that funding for one mile of the road at the Virginia line was approved. Some may argue that Pulaski County has more people and more traffic, but that wasn't the case until other areas of eastern Kentucky began receiving these road projects, while Harlan County was expected to be satisfied with a bypass from Baxter to Browning Acres. Rockcastle County, with 16,000 residents, benefits from the Highway 150 project and already has I-75 crossing through it. Harlan County, with over 25,000 residents and still the 44th largest county out of 120 in Kentucky, is left out yet again.
Makes me wonder if KYTC is looking at AADT. Harlan to Hazard? Talk about a gazillion dollar project connecting two places holding together like Sears and KMart.
Kentucky definitely seems to find money for big projects in rural places, though. I'm still reeling from the KY 122 bypass of Mead Hill.
Quote from: Rothman on January 29, 2024, 01:57:37 PM
Makes me wonder if KYTC is looking at AADT. Harlan to Hazard? Talk about a gazillion dollar project connecting two places holding together like Sears and KMart.
Kentucky definitely seems to find money for big projects in rural places, though. I'm still reeling from the KY 122 bypass of Mead Hill.
Coal is dying a slow death in eastern KY and its threatening the retreat of the remaining railroads now.
I think Harlan County simply wants help getting connectivity to a major highway network and they will take care of the rest. Somerset does not reside next to a major N/S arterial, which is I-75 over in London.
Now Hal is getting the money to connect Somerset to I-75 from the west.
Hal Rogers has been propping up SPEDA (Somerset's development agency) with massive grants and the bypass funding was requested because SPEDA landed 3 major tenants that will use it. (funny how that works)
Harlan County is in Hal Rogers district so they are looking for some love. Hal Rogers loves his home town of Somerset.
If I was in logistics planning, Somerset would not exactly be on my short list, it would have been London because I would have both E/W and N/S arterials.
Harlan County resides in between some challenging topography and unless there was some huge horse trade with Virginia, I can't see them (Virginia) moving much muscle to connect them to the east via US-421 and I-26.
So the voters in Harlan County need to apply some pressure on Mr. Pork Barrel.
Quote from: Rothman on January 29, 2024, 01:57:37 PM
Kentucky definitely seems to find money for big projects in rural places, though. I'm still reeling from the KY 122 bypass of Mead Hill.
Is that the one in South Floyd Township over Little Beaver Creek by chance?
A new route for US 421 from the end of the current reconstruction to the Virginia line is moving along.
I'm pretty sure that Hal Rogers, first elected in 1980, inherited Harlan County from the old 7th District in 1992. Previously, Harlan had been represented for years by Carl D. Perkins (who has nearly as much stuff named him for him in the old 7th as Robert Byrd has in all of West Virginia). Plus, Somerset is growing and Harlan is shrinking. US 119 is an APDH route and could (should) have been built as four lanes the way West Virginia has built its corridors.
The upper Cumberland Valley is the red-headed stepchild (along with the upper Kentucky Valley) of eastern Kentucky, fighting for crumbs after the Big Sandy corridor (Pikeville/Prestonsburg/Paintsville) and the London/Somerset area get theirs. Harlan is especially challenged because the best road (US 119) runs southwest to northeast, making good north-south access a challenge. There have been tons of "look-sees" into building a new US 421 from Harlan to Hyden to link to the Daniel Boone Hall Rogers Parkway. Crossing Pine Mountain is a huge challenge. Even now, it looks like the Pine Mountain crossing on US 119 will never be done. At one time, a tunnel was proposed but I don't think it ever went anywhere. The improved US 119 doesn't even make it all the way to the foot of the mountain on the Cumberland side.