Governor Andy Beshear and the project’s large brain trust broke ceremonial ground Thursday morning at the Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, fully commemorating the coming improvements to the 34-mile stretch of the Edward T. Breathitt Parkway.
By November 2024, the Federal Highway Administration should be able to add this pivotal north-south spur to the Interstate Highway System as I-169 — connecting the Ohio River to the Kentucky-Tennessee state line, running straight through Christian County.”
And while the development will be important for west Kentucky economic growth, peacetime military movement to and from Fort Campbell, the satellite navigation of major trucking freight and more, one theme resonated more than others:
The insistence and persistence of John Mahre, whose “tireless advocacy” through the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Hopkinsville Rotary Club, West Kentucky Chamber Alliance, Pennyrile Area Development District — and so many other avenues — helped give this interstate idea its legs.
Mahre died 13 months ago this Friday, following an 18-month bout with pancreatic cancer. Beshear offered words of comfort to his wife, Anne, and children Julia and Chris — sitting front row for the presentation.
Deneatra Henderson, chief district engineer for the Kentucky Department of Transportation District 2, called Mahre the “quarterback of I-169,” always available to push the message.
Steve Tribble, former Christian County judge-executive, said Mahre first began talking about an I-66 conversion of US 68/80 and the creation of I-69 back in 1993 — which would’ve been an intersection of east-west and north-south interstates near Hopkinsville.
When it was later determined that a portion of Breathitt Parkway was going to roll to the West Kentucky Parkway and further south as I-69, Tribble said Mahre started shifting to other plans.
With research assistance from Chamber of Commerce President Taylor Hayes, current Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam recounted the 45-year history of the roadway — one that’s seen its fair share of change.
— In 1969, Pennyrile Parkway opened as an exact-change toll road between US 41 in Henderson and US 41 A in Hopkinsville.
— In 1976, an extension to I-24 south of Hopkinsville was approved by legislators, but wasn’t initiated until 1996 under the governance of Paul Patton. It wasn’t fully realized until 2011, with the price tag of $101 million.
— In 2006, the section between the Pennyrile Parkway between Henderson and the West Kentucky Parkway was designated as a corridor for I-69.
— In 2011, petitioning of the Federal Highway Commission and Congress came from local, regional and state authorities for the I-169 designation.
— In spring 2017, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a joint resolution, beseeching federal authorities for the tag.
— And in 2018, I-169 future was awarded by federal authorities.
The KYTC has awarded the $13.9 million project to Scotty’s Contracting for the following improvements required by the federal designation:
— An increase to the vertical bridge clearance heights at three overpasses (Morris Lake Road, Woodburn Hay Road, McIntosh Chapel Road)
— The reconstruction of bridge railings on the parkway over Drakes Creek.
— Improvements for the Exit 30 interchange serving U.S. 41 southbound and parkway northbound traffic.
— Improvements to the Exit 33 interchange.
— Improvements to the Exit 34 interchange.
— And development for a future project to improve the KY 1682 interchange on the northern edge of Hopkinsville.
FULL PRESENTATION:
