Kentucky’s top transportation milestones of 2021 in photos

By Berry Craig, Building Kentucky

I-Move

I-Move Kentucky is the state’s innovative approach to improving the safety, ease of travel and quality of life for travelers and businesses that frequently use I-265, I-71 and I-64 in Louisville.  Using a four-projects-in-one approach, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is addressing some of its highest-priority transportation needs simultaneously. I-Move Kentucky is increasing lane capacity and improving ramps and interchanges. Learn more at IMoveKY.com.

Here, crews are prepping the bridge deck of the Brownsboro Road bridge over I-71.

New lighting at the I-71/I-265 interchange will improve driver visibility.

You may not see them, but underground drainage pipes along I-265 keep water off the roadway.

Bridging Kentucky

Bridging Kentucky is renewing hundreds of bridges throughout the Commonwealth – working to rehabilitate, repair or replace bridges in every region statewide. Over time, smaller county bridges have deteriorated and become unfit for heavy vehicle crossings. Bridging Kentucky will reopen closed bridges, remove weight restrictions that prevent use by school buses, emergency vehicles and businesses, and improve access and mobility for all Kentuckians. Learn more at BridgingKentucky.com.

Kentucky’s first combo bridge and environmental habitat houses bats and provides a crossing for drivers.

Bats are able to safely live under the bridge.

This Boyle County bridge got an all-new deck.

Here, a historic Hancock County historic bridge is being relocated.

Mountain Parkway

The Mountain Parkway expansion is currently in the process of widening and expanding the existing Parkway to four lanes. Once completed, the Mountain Parkway will extend over 90 miles between I-64 and US 23 in Eastern Kentucky. The project aims to modernize the parkway, develop new connections to support tourism and business development. Learn more at MtnParkway.com.

Governor Andy Beshear and KYTC Secretary Jim Gray join other officials at the completion of the Morgan County segment of the Mountain Parkway project.

Beams are set for twin bridges over Johnson Creek in Magoffin County.

Sherman Minton Renewal

The Sherman Minton Renewal is a major rehabilitation of the Sherman Minton Bridge – a vital link between Indiana and Kentucky. The project includes replacement or refurbishment of all bridge decks, rehabilitation or replacement of structural steel elements and hanger cables, installation of new lighting, repairs to drainage and painting of the steel components. Find more about the project at ShermanMintonRenewal.com.

Deck repair is a major part of the Sherman Minton Renewal.

This bird’s eye view includes the painting containment system. Inside, crews are sand blasting and coating the steel with new paint.

Large recycling units blast steel grit against the paint to remove the old coating and safely vacuum it back for disposal.