KIPDA Radio Program to Air Sunday Morning

A 20-minute program featuring KIPDA and the Metropolitan Planning Organization will air this Sunday at 6:40 a.m. on Way-FM (93.9 FM) and Shine 105.9 FM.

The "Business Spotlight" is a free program and will address the MPO and the planning process. KIPDA staff participated in the pre-recorded interview on Monday.

The radion stations spotlight a different company, agency or organization every Sunday morning.

KIPDA will be placing the interview on the website after the program airs and they receive the CD from the station.

KYTC Announces Several Road and Ramp Closures

The Department of Highways District 5 Office has announced several closures recently. Below are the closures so you can be prepared for delays.

• Temporary ramp closures on Interstate 265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) and Interstate 64 as part of the pavement repairs on I-265. The ramps listed below will be closed from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29th until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, August 1st.
• Exit ramp from southbound Interstate 265 to eastbound Interstate 64 (Exit 25A)
• Exit ramp from westbound Interstate 64 to southbound Interstate 265 (Exit 19A)
  For motorists exiting from southbound I-265 to eastbound I-64, follow the signed detour via southbound I-265 to KY 155 (Taylorsville Road), access northbound I-265 and follow to eastbound I-64. For motorists exiting from westbound I-64 to southbound I-265, follow the signed detour via westbound I-64 to Blankenbaker Parkway (Exit 17), access eastbound I-64 and follow to southbound I-265.Vehicles with loads greater than 11 feet in width will not be permitted on southbound I-265 between US 60 and I-64 from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29th until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, August 1st. A wide load detour will be signed for this interchange.
• Temporary closure of the left lane on westbound Interstate 64 in Jefferson County at the ramp to southbound Interstate 65 (mile point 4.9).  This lane closure is scheduled for Wednesday, July 27^th from 7:00 p.m. until midnight and will allow for guardrail repairs.  The ramp to southbound Interstate 65 will remain open during this work.
• Temporary lane closures on northbound Interstate 71 in Oldham County between mile points 17 and 18 near Buckner. The following lane closures will allow for bridge deck repairs:
• Right lane closed Tuesday evening, July 26th from 7:00 p.m. until midnight
• Left lane closed Thursday evening, July 28th from 7:00 p.m. until midnight
• Temporary lane closures on eastbound Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) in Jefferson County between Shelbyville Road and Westport Road (mile points 19.7 and 20.8). These lane closures are scheduled for Wednesday, July 27th and Thursday, July 28th from 8:00 p.m. each evening until 5:00 a.m. the following morning and will allow for overhead sign installation.

The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Dial 511 or log on to http://www.511.ky.gov/ for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can also get traffic information for the District 5 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5.

Ribbon cutting held on Blankenbaker Lane Extension and Watterson Trail

 Governor Steve Beshear, joined by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and other local officials, celebrated the opening of the eagerly awaited Blankenbaker Parkway extension during a ceremony today.


The new, four-lane roadway provides direct access from Taylorsville Road to the Bluegrass Commerce Park and an improved linkage between the industrial park and Interstate 265.



Gov. Steve Beshear as well as Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fischer
and Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf joined others during the ribbon cutting.



“This new roadway offers new possibilities for Jefferson County,” Gov. Beshear said. “For residents of the immediate area, and those who make their living in and around Bluegrass Commerce Park, it means less traffic congestion and much greater mobility. For the community as a whole, it means greater development potential and the promise of future jobs.”

The parkway extension, for which Gov. Beshear broke ground in March 2010, was a $9.4 million project, of which $6 million was for construction. The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) paid design, right-of-way and utility costs from dedicated federal highway funds. Construction funding was through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Flynn Brothers Contracting Inc., of Louisville, was the builder.

The new roadway – four lanes with a grass median – stretches six-tenths of a mile to connect the parkway to Taylorsville Road. The project included construction of sidewalks on both sides of the roadway and noise barrier walls for the benefit of neighboring residences.

Before construction of the extension, motorists going to the industrial park from Taylorsville Road had to negotiate narrow, curving, two-lane Chenoweth Run.

“The opening of this much-anticipated roadway will not only increase mobility for citizens who live and work in this area but will also improve safety for all drivers,” Mayor Fischer said. “The project also caters to pedestrians with newly installed sidewalks.”

“With this project, the investments of the Recovery Act are continuing to pay dividends in Louisville,” said Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03). “By funding the construction of this new roadway, these investments put people to work right away and improved our infrastructure to ease commerce and commuting for years to come.”

Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf said construction of the extension completes a component of the master plan for the commerce park, “A Vision for Today and Tomorrow.”

“Improved access to the Bluegrass Commerce Park is vital to businesses today,” he added. “Companies like Signature Healthcare, SHPS and Papa John’s call Jeffersontown and the Bluegrass Commerce Park home, and making strategic infrastructure investments with the extension of Blankenbaker Parkway is important to their success.”

Cuts ribbon for Skyview Park-Gaslight Square multi-use path in Jeffersontown

Also Wednesday, Gov. Beshear joined Mayor Dieruf and other local officials in a ribbon cutting to open the Skyview Park-Gaslight Square multi-use bike and pedestrian path along Watterson Trail, which is KY 1819. The most notable feature of the path is a steel truss pedestrian bridge over Chenoweth Run Road.

“Outdoor activity and exercise has been a big part of my life and the lives of our entire family,” Gov. Beshear said. “Walking and riding bicycles are not only good for your health. They’re two of our most enjoyable and beneficial outdoor pastimes.”

“Connecting the neighborhoods to the downtown, city parks, commercial corridors and the workplace with the Bluegrass Commerce Park this trail will enhance accessibility throughout the city and make Jeffersontown truly a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community,” Mayor Dieruf said. “Providing a safe and enjoyable place to ride a bike or walk will encourage physical fitness and family exercise while having a little fun along the way, too.”