Interstate 169 Kentucky
Overview
Interstate 169 is the proposed designation for Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway between I-24 near Hopkinsville and the exchange joining I-69 and Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway (Future I-369) near Nortonville. Currently no time table has been established for the inclusion of I-169 signage along this portion of the parkway.
Additional photos of the “Future I-169 Spur Corridor” sign unveiling event at Hopkinsville this morning.
Posted by KYTCDistrict2 on Monday, April 23, 2018
Route Information
Source: 7
History
Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway (KY 9004) opened to traffic in 1969 as a toll facility between U.S. 41 in Henderson and U.S. 41 Alternate in Hopkinsville. Originally under the Kentucky Turnpike Authority, tolls were levied along 56 of 71 miles of the parkway until 1992, when the bonds to construct it were paid off ahead of schedule.1 The toll free section of Pennyrile Parkway carried U.S. 41 north from Nortonville to Mortons Gap and Madisonville, until the mid 1990s when the U.S. highway was returned to its original alignment. The parkway was renamed after Edward T. Breathitt on September 13, 2000 in honor of the former Kentucky Governor.1 During his tenure as Governor (1963-1967), Breathitt continued the work of Bert T. Combs in improving funding for roads and highways, among other services in the state.2 Pennyrile Parkway was among the highways funded during his administration.3
Despite a 1976 approval to extend Pennyrile Parkway from U.S. 41 Alternate (Exit 7) near Hopkinsville south to Interstate 242, the parkway remained unfinished until 2011. Construction began in 2006 to complete the connection with I-24. The first of three phases constructed 1.8 miles from U.S. 41 Alternate to U.S. 68 Bypass around Hopkinsville.4 This stretch opened to traffic in 2008.1
Phase two of the 7 mile long project opened April 2010, connecting Pennyrile Parkway with Lover’s Lane (Exit 5) and nearby Hopkinsville Convention Center.1 The remaining 4.9 miles of Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway, including the trumpet interchange with I-24, opened to traffic on March 1, 2011. Costing $101 million,3 the project provided much needed relief from traffic congestion along surrounding corridors. As stated by a chief engineer for the Kentucky Department of Highways District 2 in Madisonville,5
As traffic has increased over the years, cross-country trucks and through passenger vehicles created congestion on U.S. 41-A, prompting the need to complete the connection to I-24.
With the parkway finished south of Hopkinsville, efforts commenced in 2011 to petition the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Congress redesignate the section between I-24 and the Western Kentucky Parkway as an I-24 spur.3 Since Pennyrile Parkway north from Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway to Henderson was signed into law as Interstate 69,6 state legislatures wanted a separate designation for the remaining portion, citing its importance as a regional high speed corridor.
The U.S. Senate passed an amendment to H.R. 2577 of the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on May 18, 2016 that designated Pennyrile Parkway as Interstate 169.7 Submitted by U.S. Senator Rand Paul, the I-169 designation7
will increase economic development and opportunities for thousands of Kentuckians.
Future Interstate 169 corridor signs were installed at both ends of the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway as well as at the Christian/Hopkins County line as of April 23, 2018.8
North End
/ Western Kentucky Parkway – Nortonville, Kentucky
South at Future
/ Western Kentucky Pkwy
Interstate 69 heads south from the city of Mortons Gap to a systems exchange with Future I-169 (Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway) and Western Kentucky Parkway (Future I-369) northeast of Nortonville. 06/25/22
New roadways were constructed for Interstate 69 that bypass the original cloverleaf interchange joining Western Kentucky and Pennyrile Parkways. Redesign of the exchange at Exit 106 was completed in November 2015. 06/25/22
Future North at
/ Western Kentucky Pkwy
South End
– Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Future South at
West at Future
East at Future
Sources
- Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway. Kentucky Roads (www.kentuckyroads.com).
- Edward T. Breathitt, Wikipedia.
- “Pennyrile Parkway officially opens”, The Eagle Post (Oak Grove, KY), June 29, 2011.
- “State to extend Pennyrile”, The Gleaner (Henderson, KY), May 6, 2006.
- “Pennyrile Parkway extension opens”, WFIE-TV-14 (Evansville, IN), March 1, 2011.
- “Public Law 110-244-June 6, 2008, SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008.” U.S. Government Publishing Office (www.gpo.gov), June 6, 2008.
- “Senate Unanimously Passes Sen. Rand Paul’s Amendment to Designate Interstate I-169 in Western Kentucky to the Transportation and Housing Appropriations Bill.” official Rand Paul (U.S. Senator) website (www.paul.senate.gov), May 19, 2016.
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 2 Facebook “Future I-169 spur” albums page.
Page updated June 27, 2022.