I-69 in KY

[JREwing78]

BigRigSteve's been spending a lot of time on I-69 in Kentucky recently; he's beamed up a ton of footage of the proposed I-69 corridor in Tennessee as well. From what I've seen, it appears any reference to I-69's temporary status is gone in Kentucky, regardless of the remaining work to be done. 

It's not clear to me what kind of agreement Kentucky made with the FHWA and AASHTO regarding design standards and exceptions to them. There's sections of I-69 south of Henderson that appear not to have full-width shoulders. Narrow shoulders on overpasses are not uncommon on other older Interstates, but even beyond them the paved shoulder feels tight. The pavement is newer; I would imagine if they were required to widen the shoulders for approval it would've been done already. 

[wriddle082]

BigRigSteve's been spending a lot of time on I-69 in Kentucky recently; he's beamed up a ton of footage of the proposed I-69 corridor in Tennessee as well. From what I've seen, it appears any reference to I-69's temporary status is gone in Kentucky, regardless of the remaining work to be done.

It's not clear to me what kind of agreement Kentucky made with the FHWA and AASHTO regarding design standards and exceptions to them. There's sections of I-69 south of Henderson that appear not to have full-width shoulders. Narrow shoulders on overpasses are not uncommon on other older Interstates, but even beyond them the paved shoulder feels tight. The pavement is newer; I would imagine if they were required to widen the shoulders for approval it would've been done already.

They would not have posted the I-69 designation if the Feds thought the shoulders were not up to interstate standards, so I guess they're compliant.

Between the two US 41 interchanges in Madisonvile and Nortonville, this stretch of the former Pennyrile Parkway is older than the stretches at either end.  It opened in the early 60's as a rerouting of US 41, and also never had tolls.  The remainder of the parkway at either end (except for the 2010 southern extension to I-24) opened up in the late 60's or early 70's as the Pennyrile Parkway, with tolls on the newer sections, and US 41 was put back on its original routing when the Pennyrile designation was applied to the older middle section.

I drove the Pennyrile often in 2004 as I worked on several projects in most of the towns the route passes by.  That middle section was noticeably rougher and narrower than the sections at the end.  I would have assumed that KYTC almost completely reconstructed it, but perhaps it still needs some additional work.  I'm surprised they didn't choose to just pave over the entire median and put up a concrete barrier.  Tennessee did that to a slightly dangerous stretch of I-40 in far western Putnam County, and North Carolina did this to part of I-73/74 right in Asheboro.

[jnewkirk77]

BigRigSteve's been spending a lot of time on I-69 in Kentucky recently; he's beamed up a ton of footage of the proposed I-69 corridor in Tennessee as well. From what I've seen, it appears any reference to I-69's temporary status is gone in Kentucky, regardless of the remaining work to be done.

It's not clear to me what kind of agreement Kentucky made with the FHWA and AASHTO regarding design standards and exceptions to them. There's sections of I-69 south of Henderson that appear not to have full-width shoulders. Narrow shoulders on overpasses are not uncommon on other older Interstates, but even beyond them the paved shoulder feels tight. The pavement is newer; I would imagine if they were required to widen the shoulders for approval it would've been done already.

As I recall, from the WKP to Henderson, the only required changes were to modify the taper of a few ramps and rebuild the KY 56 interchange at Sebree. Shoulder widths were given a pass.

[silverback1065]

if you apply for a design exception and can prove it won't make the road unsafe it is usually approved. so substandard shoulder width may have been an exception the feds allowed because they applied for one and demonstrated it would not make the road unsafe with smaller shoulders.

[jnewkirk77]

"55 miles of Ky. parkways accepted into Interstate Highway System following recent upgrades" (Kentucky Today)

[sprjus4]

"55 miles of Ky. parkways accepted into Interstate Highway System following recent upgrades" (Kentucky Today)

In summary, I-69 will be designated along the Purchase Parkway between Mayfield and Fulton, effectively completing virtually all of I-69 in Kentucky (except the very northern and southern ends).

I-169 will also be designated along the Pennyrile Pkwy between the Western Kentucky Pkwy and I-24.

[ITB]

Here's a batch of construction photos of Section 1 of the ORX project. Section 1, as many of you know, comprises the Kentucky approach roads and bridges to future I-69 Ohio River Crossing.

The photos were grabbed from the ORX project website. Some are a little old, others are more recent.

To start, the future I-69/US 60 interchange:


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Schematic showing the location of the future I-69 Ohio River bridge, along with the future I-69/US 60 interchange, now under construction.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Drone view of I-69/US 60 construction zone in Daviess County, KY in the summer of 2024; looking west. Image date: July 2024.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Closer perspective, again looking west. Image date: July 2024.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
More recent image depicting the US 60 roundabouts, as well as the future column bent that will support future I-69 going over US 60; looking west. Image date: December 2024.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
The partially built eastern teardrop roundabout of the future I-69/US 60 interchange; looking east. Image date: January 29, 2025.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Winter concrete pour at the US 60 work zone. Image date: January 29, 2025.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing
Another view of the pour. Ragle, Inc., based in  Newburgh, Indiana, is the contractor. Image date: January 29, 2025.

I'll try to post some additional photos soon.

[Rick Powell]

Copied from Southeast forum since there is a KY component to the project.

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A public meeting on the Fulton KY-South Fulton TN interchange was held in South Fulton, attended by both KYTC and TDOT. Some new tweaks to the interchange design including the addition of roundabouts. Construction scheduled for spring 2028 and ROW will be acquired starting next year. Links to the public presentation are included in the tn.gov link below.

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/region-4/interstate-69-corridor.html
https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/03/21/tdot-extends-public-comment-period-i-69-interchange-re-configuration-project/

[ITB]

Copied from Southeast forum since there is a KY component to the project.

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A public meeting on the Fulton KY-South Fulton TN interchange was held in South Fulton, attended by both KYTC and TDOT. Some new tweaks to the interchange design including the addition of roundabouts. Construction scheduled for spring 2028 and ROW will be acquired starting next year. Links to the public presentation are included in the tn.gov link below.

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/region-4/interstate-69-corridor.html
https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/03/21/tdot-extends-public-comment-period-i-69-interchange-re-configuration-project/

Good to hear the project is moving forward. With a construction start date in the spring of 2028, it should substantially complete in either 2030 or 2031.