Ekkkkkkkkkkkk I-71 Kentucky

ShawnP · September 16, 2010, 11:21:23 AM

Went to a Reds game last night and was shocked at the poor shape of I-71 from Louisville to the I-71/75 Junction. Some huge absolutely rim rattling pot holes. Time to spend some money Kentucky. With NASCAR coming to Kentucky Speedway time to spend money and fix it soon Kentucky. Also the bus crash sign outside Carrolton is very, very sobering. If you don't know about this crash here is some information about this horrific accident from 1988.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrollton,_Kentucky_bus_collision

hbelkins · September 16, 2010, 02:00:00 PM

I don't travel I-71 very often, but I agree that it's usually in pretty bad shape. Plus as you go east of the Henry County area, you have lots of hills with slow-moving trucks.

Sykotyk · September 16, 2010, 08:30:59 PM

I was on it a week ago. They've had problems for the past few years with the right side tirepath of the slow lane breaking down into horribly deep pot holes.

ShawnP · September 17, 2010, 10:36:15 AM

I will agree it was mostly in the right travel lane on both sides. Unless Kentucky wants some really bad publication. It needs to fix the highway between now and next summer. 100K plus NASCAR fans plus press won't do Kentucky any favors. Plus like others said there is need for some truck climbing lanes. However with the triangle of Lexington, Cincy and Louisville. I would hope Kentucky six lanes all Interstates between the three to maximize travel times and enhance revunues from the three biggest economic engines in Kentucky.

seicer · December 02, 2010, 06:34:43 PM

I recalled coming upon a hole in the right lane so severe that I had to stop to inspect for damage. It was coming over the crest of a hill, where you couldn't see the pavement that far ahead, and I remembered seeing what looked like a gravel roadway. There was a pile of roadway debris on the shoulder.

A portion of it, from at least the I-75 interchange west, is being repaved... thankfully.

ShawnP · April 19, 2011, 12:05:47 AM

Total rebuild from Sparta (Kentucky Speedway) to I-71/75 appears to be happening. Working all the way to the base and redoing drainage and some slide off areas. They will really have to hustle to get it done before the NASCAR event in July.

Sykotyk · April 19, 2011, 11:48:36 PM

From the way it was falling apart last year, it appeared the base had finally disintegrated into rubble. Simply paving over (what they did last time, I believe) doesn't help, it just makes bigger potholes.

ShawnP · April 20, 2011, 03:18:55 PM

Somewhere Pete Rahn and Modot would say that wouldn't be "intelligent design".

Quote from: Sykotyk on April 19, 2011, 11:48:36 PM
From the way it was falling apart last year, it appeared the base had finally disintegrated into rubble. Simply paving over (what they did last time, I believe) doesn't help, it just makes bigger potholes.

Crazy Volvo Guy · April 29, 2011, 09:50:56 PM

They need to tear it up and completely rebuild it, but I suspect the money isn't there for that. I was on it 3 weeks ago and even with the "repairs" they've done, it's still absolutely horrible.

Buummu · April 30, 2011, 10:43:50 PM

I-71 in a bad shape? wow...... somebody did not do its job......

The Premier · July 06, 2011, 05:51:45 PM

Quote from: ShawnP on September 16, 2010, 11:21:23 AM
Went to a Reds game last night and was shocked at the poor shape of I-71 from Louisville to the I-71/75 Junction. Some huge absolutely rim rattling pot holes.

Me and my family was on I-71 SB en route to Birmingham and your comment was no joke. From I-75 to the Kentucky Speedway the ride was smooth, but other than that, the roads were horrible. There were potholes in the middle of the road and it was very bumpy. What a shame.

ShawnP · July 06, 2011, 05:55:51 PM

You would think with NASCAR holding it's first race at Kentucky Speedway that KYTC would spiffy up I-71 from Louisville to Lexington. Nope they left it in poor shape. So don't be surprised about the bad publicity coming your way Kentucky.

The Premier · July 07, 2011, 10:38:22 PM

Quote from: ShawnP on July 06, 2011, 05:55:51 PM
You would think with NASCAR holding it's first race at Kentucky Speedway that KYTC would spiffy up I-71 from Louisville to Lexington. Nope they left it in poor shape. So don't be surprised about the bad publicity coming your way Kentucky.

Not to mention the fact that I have to travel on I-71 north to go back home this weekend, so we have to put up with the NASCAR fans that are probably trying to head home. And IDK if the northbound lanes are worst than the southbound lanes.

While the KTC is at it (reconsructing I-71), they should look into widening that road from I-75 to the Kentucky Speedway and from two miles from I-265 to the Kennedy Interchange in Louisville.

ShawnP · July 10, 2011, 04:08:57 PM

Well welcome to failure KYTC, Kentucky Speedway and Kentucky State Police. Your could see this happening from months away. As no one in the Commonwealth's government structure had any sense of urgency about them when it came to this race. Sure lots of them wanted the free pub but didn't want to spend the money or effort to accomadate the guests coming to Kentucky. Don't be surprised KY when they don't come back.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110709/SPORTS16/307090114/Kentucky-Speedway-Fans-find-giant-traffic-snarl-71

DeaconG · July 10, 2011, 07:55:55 PM

Maybe Mr. Smith should do what some other sports teams have done and help PAY for the improvements?

Oh, I'm sorry. I had an attack of common sense.

Forgive me.

seicer · July 10, 2011, 11:40:29 PM

Yeah, KYTC did nothing in the wrong here. The interchange performed to its function, and traffic did not queue up that badly onto I-71. KYTC trucks and police were waiting in the medians in the event that traffic did start backing up onto the main through lanes.

The problem was that the Speedway did not anticipate the demand. The entrance was atrocious, the parking situation was dismal and chaotic, and if it takes 2-5 hours to go from the interstate to the speedway which is 1 mile away -- you have a serious problem.

I wanted to exit Friday afternoon to go get gas at Love's in Sparta, but I couldn't even glance at the exit. It was queued all the way out onto the interstate - which was flowing fine the entire time, and not even moving. People had their cars shut off on the ramp to conserve gas.

rickmastfan67 · July 11, 2011, 03:38:00 AM

I was tempted to go to the Kentucky race, but I'm glad I didn't because of the traffic problems.

ShawnP · July 11, 2011, 09:17:56 AM

I would have constructed switchovers at the 10 mile point north and south of the speedway to move thru traffic onto the opposite lanes of traffic. If KY Speedway didn't see a sellout then shame on them. However KYTC and the Commonwealth should have looked at the parking plan to ensure it was a functional one for a sellout. This should have been smooth as Kentucky has knowledge of big events even bigger than this one (that thing called the Derby).

Roadgeek Adam · July 11, 2011, 11:13:53 AM

The Kentucky race was a sell out crowd. And actually Bruton Smith expected demand, considering he added more seats than the place can handle. Right now its arguing between all agencies at who's at fault, and all of them have released statements citing they aren't responsible. This is going to be a messy week.

tdindy88 · July 11, 2011, 12:26:35 PM

I just looked at my new Kentucky road map, which seems to promote this race like there's nothing else, and the governor's message on the back included the following passage: "Racing fans from around the country will descend upon the Commonwealth, where they'll find warm hospitality and lots of exciting opportunities to have fun." Sure sounds like that's what happened in the C-J article

. But in all seriousness, even if that interstate was six lanes (which is should be anyways for the Louisville-Cincinnati traffic), if the design of the interchange and access road to the Speedway are inadaquet, then there will be traffic backups. I do know here in Indianapolis, where we have some experience with big races, they have made some of the main streets from the speedway contraflow before and after the race and it seems to work pretty well, I've only waited up to one and a half hours to get out, but with 400,000 people that isn't too bad.

ShawnP · July 11, 2011, 02:59:56 PM

The traffic plan looked like it had drawn up at a midnight drunk fest at Waffle House on a napkin.

ShawnP · July 11, 2011, 03:04:49 PM

KYTC thought it had it in check........If you notice the posts I noticed the problems last fall.

http://kytcnewsroom.ky.gov/news/2011-07-01_QS400_Traffic.htm

InterstateNG · July 11, 2011, 07:39:01 PM

Quote from: ShawnP on July 11, 2011, 03:04:49 PM
KYTC thought it had it in check........If you notice the posts I noticed the problems last fall.

1. The only mentions I see from last fall are about the potholes, not capacity.

2. Did you actually try and speak about the matter with anyone who could affect change?

seicer · July 11, 2011, 08:45:15 PM

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110710/COL03/307100054/Doc-Quit-whining-race-goers

What do you expect when you have 100,000+ people descend upon a speedway that is served by two interchanges on a four-lane interstate? Even if we had widened the interstate to six-lanes throughout, or even ten, it would have not solved the underlying issue, and that was with the Speedway management and the lack of coordination with the local police.

There were few attendants in the parking area. If we expect that at other major events, like the Kentucky Derby - which attracts more visitors and has few traffic problems, then why not the Speedway? Did they not anticipate the demand after selling out 100,000 tickets? There were also broken elevators, a lack of toilet paper, a lack of restrooms and overrun concessions. They added seats, but not capacity elsewhere.

As for closing down the other lanes of Interstate 71 and converting them to outbound-Speedway traffic, what about considering the other 30,000+ vehicles per day that use Interstate 71? There is no good alternative, sans US 41 - and that is slow going.

Or the fact that you can't carpool or bus people in from more distant locations? Say, Florence Mall or Middletown Mall. That reduces the number of drivers on the roadway that idle at the exits and parking areas, saves gas and money, and requires fewer parking spaces.

hbelkins · July 11, 2011, 11:51:48 PM

I'm not saying this because I work for them, but there is no way that KYTC can be blamed for this.

They already rebuilt KY 35 in the area, built a new alignment of 35 south from I-71 to Sparta to connect with the improved route that turns into US 127 and leads to Frankfort (a good alternative route), built a new exit at the speedway, and built a connector road to the Markland Dam. KYTC can't be blamed for the speedway having a lack of parking or for what the speedway people did with traffic once it left the state highway system and entered the speedway property.

What I don't understand is why traffic would have been more of an issue here than, say, at Pocono. I-80 there is only four lanes, and there is only one exit (PA 115) for the speedway. And isn't there only one main exit off I-20 to Talladega?

Someone referenced the Kentucky Derby. I think most of the parking there is on private property away from the track. From what I've seen, Churchill Downs actually has very little parking on-site.

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Ekkkkkkkkkkkk I-71 Kentucky