Information provided by Kentucky Department of Transportation
I69
Kentucky has decided to route I69 along the existing parkways, thus utilizing existing infrastructure. Therefore, in the Madisonville/Hopkins County area this means that I69 will run down the Pennyrile Parkway to the Western Kentucky Parkway, then follow the WK Parkway to I 24, then on to the Purchase Parkway to Tennessee. Currently "Future I69 Corridor" signs are located on both parkways, signaling their future use to today's travellers. There is currently no funding mechanism in place for starting the process of building I69 in Kentucky. There is, however, two planning level studies in their final preparation stages at the time of this writing. The first is the preparation of the Environmental Document that picks a corridor along a new route around Henderson to the east and across the Ohio River, intersecting I 164 southeast of Evansville. This document is probably a year away from final approval by FHWA, at which time the selected generalized corridor will be "locked in". The second planning study underway is a detailed look at the Parkways from Eddyville to Henderson. It's purpose is to quantify, analyze, estimate and prioritize needed improvements that are necessary on these Parkways before they can be utilized as an Interstate. Following are two paragraphs detailing the proposed rise in traffic that I69 will bring with it. (This information and more can be found at http://www.planning.kytc.ky.gov/projects/dist_2.asp)
Traffic Volumes without I-69 (2030): Average annual growth rates along the Parkways range from 1.7% to 2.1%. These rates result in traffic volumes ranging from 15,100 to 18,100 vpd along the Ford Parkway and from 17,200 to 43,000 vpd along the Breathitt Parkway.
Traffic Volumes with I-69 (2030): Assuming I-66 and I-69 will travel along a portion of the Ford Parkway, growth rates range from 3.2% to 3.7% along the Ford Parkway. Rates range from 2.2% to 2.3 along the Breathitt Parkway. These result in traffic volumes ranging from 23,100 to 30,500 vehicles per day along the Ford Parkway and from 19,100 to 50,500 vehicles per day along the Breathitt Parkway
I66
There are no studies or planned projects in the District 2 counties, although the route is proposed to follow the Western Kentucky Parkway through Hopkins, Caldwell and Muhlenberg counties. This means that near Nortonville, that two interstates will potentially connect/cross at some time in the future.
Pennyrile Parkway Extension to I24
The construction project is not in Hopkins County but does impact all counties along the Pennyrile Parkway. Currently the Pennyrile Parkway Extension to I24 is under construction from the current end of the parkway south to Lover's Lane in Hopkinsville. The remaining leg of the roadway construction project is ready to go to construction, but the letting date has not been established. It is anticipated that by the end of the 2010 construction year, the Pennyrile Parkway will attach to I 24.
US41A
US41A from North Main St. in Madisonville to Calumet Lane is a current project. The roadway will be widened to a 5 lane curb & gutter roadway. This project could be let to construction in 2011. The remainder of US41A is listed as a potential project extending on all the way to Providence and it is in the KYTC 6 Yr. This project is slated as a planning study with the year of implementation being 2009.
KY85 out to the Madisonville Airport
This project has the DESIGN phase in the current 6 Yr. Plan with the year of implementation being 2009. No other phases are in the 6 Yr. Plan at this time. The proposed improvements would be to rebuild the roadway as a "Super 2". This would improve the roadway to 2 12 foot lanes with a full paved shoulder, as well as correct in horizontal and vertical deficiencies.
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