Kentucky

[Rothman]

Call it...I-86...

[seicer]

Consider the example of Interstate 66, which was once proposed to extend through an area similar to Cairo.

Regarding economic development, it's important to recall Cairo's history as a logistics hub during the steamboat and ferry eras. The construction of the railroad bridge over the Ohio River, followed by two automobile bridges, marked a significant economic shift for the city. The introduction of diesel tugs, which reduced the need for layovers in Cairo, was a major blow to the local economy. Additionally, longstanding racial tensions have further complicated the city's economic challenges, leaving only a handful of industries and businesses currently operating in Cairo. It's unlikely that a new interstate would directly address these deep-rooted issues.

However, there is a positive aspect to consider: the construction of a new interstate would at least ensure a seismically sound connection between the two states. This could provide some infrastructure stability and potentially contribute to future opportunities

[Georgia Guardrail]

Finally the Leestown Road/New Circle Road DDI is starting construction. 

https://www.lex18.com/news/changes-coming-to-new-circle-road-and-leestown-road-interchange

I am assuming this also means that the New Circle Road bridges over Leestown Road and the railroad crossing before Georgetown Road will be torn down and replaced with wider structures?

[seicer]

Correct - these will be replaced with wider structures with full width shoulders.

[seicer]

A deadly stretch of New Circle Road is going to be redesigned with $21.7 million

"The federal government has awarded Lexington nearly $22 million to make much-needed improvements to New Circle Road on the city's north side.

The project will include reconstruction of New Circle Road from Boardwalk to Bryan Station Road. It will include new interchanges. Plans also call for bike and pedestrian paths. Currently there are no pedestrian and bike paths in that area. The project will also make it more user-friendly for Lextran users.

From 2015 to 2021, that section of New Circle Road experienced the highest number of Lexington's fatal and serious injury crashes.

There were 34 fatal or severe crashes during that period. Nearly half of those — 44% — were people walking or bicycling, according to data provided by the city. More than 40,000 vehicles travel that section of road every day."

--

This project entails the construction of numerous RCUT intersections at Boardwalk, Russell Cave, N. Limestone, Golden Way, shared 10' paths on one or both sides of New Circle, and pedestrian crossing enhancements throughout. It doesn't look like the road will be widened to six lanes which it sorely needs between two six-lane segments.

Project website: https://www.imaginenewcircle.org/

[hbelkins]

Those RCUTs on a busy road like New Circle will go over like a wet fart in church.

[Georgia Guardrail]

Where will the new interchanges (not including RCUTS) be?  I'm assuming they are going to have Russell Cave and Broadway be SPUIs over New Circle Road like Winchester Road.  I think an original plan 20 years ago called for SPUIs to be constructed there.

[seicer]

There will be no new interchanges, just RCUTs. There was a study conducted years ago, with a full freeway proposal for that half of New Circle Road, but it was just that, one of many alternatives that never came to fruition. It would be prohibitively expensive.

[Georgia Guardrail]

Figures, the price tag should have been a clue. $22 million would barely cover one bridge let alone two.  Disappointing.  I feel they also cheaped out on the I64/I75 widening by not actually "widening" the road but instead restriping it and upgrading the median barrier. 

[seicer]

KYTC is planning to improve US 60 in the vicinity of the Rock Crusher Curve east of Olive Hill to the Interstate 64 interchange: https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictNine/Pages/US-60-Carter-Olive-Hill.aspx

[milbfan]

Just a gripe here...

Got off on Man O'War from I-75 in Lexington, near Hamburg Pavilion.  Greeted with an electronic sign reminding folks that it is a violation to block the intersection of a red light.  Agree, but...

Shouldn't they be talking to the traffic engineers about the clump of traffic lights on Sir Barton anyway?  Coming back out is bad, because right until the intersection with Man O'War, you have two lanes that suddenly become four.  If you're trying to get back to 75 and are in the right lane, you're hosed, unless someone is nice enough to let you in.  There is one black-and-white sign, but it isn't posted until you're almost on top of the intersection.

*stares at LPD and the traffic engineers with the anger of those caught in 1000 back-ups on US 280 in the Birmingham area.*

[GCrites]

Other bands play, Man 'O War kills

[hbelkins]

Just a gripe here...

Got off on Man O'War from I-75 in Lexington, near Hamburg Pavilion.  Greeted with an electronic sign reminding folks that it is a violation to block the intersection of a red light.  Agree, but...

Shouldn't they be talking to the traffic engineers about the clump of traffic lights on Sir Barton anyway?  Coming back out is bad, because right until the intersection with Man O'War, you have two lanes that suddenly become four.  If you're trying to get back to 75 and are in the right lane, you're hosed, unless someone is nice enough to let you in.  There is one black-and-white sign, but it isn't posted until you're almost on top of the intersection.

*stares at LPD and the traffic engineers with the anger of those caught in 1000 back-ups on US 280 in the Birmingham area.*

Since 99 percent of the time, I'm leaving Lexington via I-64 east (or US 60), I avoid that mess by going north on Sir Barton to Winchester Road, and then either taking US 60 or I-64 from there.

At one time, Sir Barton was noted as "PVT" on the street signs, as it was part of a private development. I'm not sure if LFUCG took over control of that street or not. But yeah, Hamburg has always been a traffic cluster foxtrot.

Other bands play, Man 'O War kills

When they hit town, signals explode.

[GCrites]

now every light you see is green like in Wheels of Fire

[hbelkins]

Kentucky's recommended highway plan has been released and is in the hands of the legislature now.

The most interesting thing I saw was a proposal to study reopening the Nolan Toll Bridge between Kentucky and West Virginia. I was under the impression that the construction of Corridor G (US 119) with its two crossings of the Kentucky/West Virginia state line had eliminated the need for the crossing at that location.

[seicer]

That's interesting. It's a 13.5-mile detour to Warfield KY and Kermit WV to the north and a 4-mile detour to the south.

--

Looks like the plan is located at https://transportation.ky.gov/Program-Management/Pages/default.aspx

[madbengalsfan85]

So I'm guessing once they're finished with widening 64/75 between exit 113-115, southern split to 113 is the next segment

[seicer]

KYTC has released its planning study around the Smith Grove interchange of I-65: https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Planning%20Studies%20and%20Reports/Smiths%20Grove%20Final%20Report.pdf

It's good to see Kentucky embrace roundabouts. In this case, the center turn lane is being eliminated by a hard barrier, with turns restricted to right-in and right-out.

[hbelkins]

KYTC has released its planning study around the Smith Grove interchange of I-65: https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Planning%20Studies%20and%20Reports/Smiths%20Grove%20Final%20Report.pdf

It's good to see Kentucky embrace roundabouts. In this case, the center turn lane is being eliminated by a hard barrier, with turns restricted to right-in and right-out.

Wonder if Buc-ee's is ponying up some money for those improvements?

[seicer]

It looks like they will be providing funding for improvements on their side of the interchange, which includes a dedicated roundabout for their business.

[madbengalsfan85]

It looks like they will be providing funding for improvements on their side of the interchange, which includes a dedicated roundabout for their business.

They do love their roundabouts *glares at Richmond Buc-ee's*

[seicer]

Those work surprisingly well with the amount of traffic it receives. I wish they would convert the traffic signals/stop-controlled intersections at Interstate 75 and Duncannon Road (future KY Route 52) into roundabouts.

[Georgia Guardrail]

Does anyone know anything about the recent alterations they are doing to a lot of the freeway bridges with bar railings?  They seem to be getting rid of the one bar railings and turning them into modified concrete barriers.  See the I-75/I-71 south interchange below. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.876811,-84.625189,3a,75y,112.28h,100.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_68qeRWD4fo4o4LVsjxIjg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

They've also done this with New Circle Road in Lexington.  Also with the I-265/I-64 interchange.

Any reason?  I personally don't care for the aesthetic.  This modified bridge railing looks incomplete and too short like this.

[seicer]

They just modified the KY 2 overpass over Interstate 64 in recent months, too.

The railings do not meet current FHWA standards without modifications. From my understanding, the barrier is not high enough and the protruding curb is a safety issue. I've seen these types of barriers retrofitted with traditional guardrails affixed to the protruding curb.

The tube railings are still used in places but are affixed atop contemporary concrete barriers such as this: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CJE4A1M7hTW5YrLn7

[seicer]

I made a several day-long trip down to south central Kentucky and got to check out some projects underway:

- US 25W is being widened to four lanes + with a median and defined access points between KY 727 west of Interstate 75 to KY 3041 (Corbin Bypass). In general, US 25W west to KY 90 could use better access management and 4' shoulders.

- US 25E on the north side of Corbin is always a hot mess of traffic and unchecked sprawl. I'm surprised the concrete pavement—original to 1968—is still around.

- There is a proposal to upgrade US 25 between Corbin and London to four lanes with partial access control at defined intersections and a (generally) depressed median - greatly needed as this is a heavily trafficked route with a high accident rate because of uncontrolled access. It includes an interchange with US 25E. Project information can be found at https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictEleven/Pages/U.S.-25-South-Leg.aspx and https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictEleven/Pages/Laurel-County---U.S.-25-North-Leg-.aspx

- KY 192 is being reconstructed between a point just west of Interstate 75 to US 25 in London. Intersections are being consolidated, and frontage/back roads are being built to reduce driveway access points. The road dates to 1979, and this will be the first overhaul of the road. Project information can be found at https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictEleven/Pages/KY-192-Project-Laurel.aspx

- I got to drive KY 30 between London and US 421 at Tyner. A one-hour drive now takes 25 minutes. The new route has four lanes for the first quarter mile before narrowing down to two lanes + truck lanes on hills for the remainder of the route. KY 30 between the Hal Rogers Parkway and KY 3094, which has partial control of access, has a widened right-of-way for four-lanes.

- The Hal Rogers Parkway (Daniel Boone Parkway) could stand for widening and better access control, especially between Interstate 75 and KY 192. There is a planning project that covers it at https://transportation.ky.gov/Highway-Design/VE%20Study/VE202203_Hal%20Rogers.pdf, although I can't agree with all of the value engineering proposals, such as a roundabout at KY 30. A planning study begins this year to widen the Parkway to four lanes between London and Hazard.

- The Cumberland Parkway will be extended east from US 27 in Somerset towards the new KY 80/461 interchange at Shopville: https://halrogers.house.gov/2023/7/congressman-rogers-requests-45-million-for-northern-bypass-in-pulaski-county

- KY 461 has been greatly improved in the vicinity of KY 80. There is now partial access control and an RCUT interchange at Pin Oak Drive. Unfortunately, there is no full median barrier - just a paved median, although the Vaue Engineering Study called for a barrier median: https://transportation.ky.gov/Highway-Design/VE%20Study/VE201905%20KY80%20and%20KY461%20Interchange%20and%20KY%20461%20Widening.pdf

- Construction begins this year to widen KY 461 between US 150 and Interstate 75 in Mt. Vernon, which was built in 1985 with enough right-of-way to accommodate four lanes: https://transportation.ky.gov/Planning/Pages/Project-Details.aspx?Project=KY+461+from+US+150+to+US+25+DNA+Study