Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway

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Mountain Parkway

Route information
Maintained by KYTC
Length75.627 mi[1] (121.710 km)
Major junctions
West end I-64 near Winchester
East end US 460 near Salyersville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountiesClark, Powell, Wolfe, Morgan, Magoffin
Highway system

The Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, commonly known as the Mountain Parkway, is a freeway in eastern Kentucky. The route runs from Interstate 64 just east of Winchester southeast for 75.627 miles (121.710 km) to a junction with U.S. Route 460 near Salyersville. The first 46 miles (74 km), beginning at the western terminus in Winchester is a four-lane limited access highway with only minor design standard differences from an Interstate Highway, while the remainder is a limited access Super two highway.

History

A large portion of the parkway is four lanes wide

The Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway was built in the early 1960s and opened in January 1963 as Kentucky's second toll road. The route was originally signed only as the 'Mountain Parkway'. In the late 1970s, the "Bert T. Combs" name was added to honor the governor from the mountains who spearheaded construction of the highway. Auxiliary plates were added above the circular Mountain Parkway signs to mark the designation.

As with all of Kentucky's toll roads, the tolls were removed as the construction bonds were paid off. Tolls were removed from the four-lane section in 1985, and the road became a freeway in 1986 when the remaining tolls were removed from the two-lane section.

The Mountain Parkway used a circular shield until the 2000s.

The route was designated Kentucky Route 114 in April 1985. In August, the road was redesignated Kentucky Route 402. Later, in February 1990, the parkway was designated Kentucky Route 9000 from its western terminus to Kentucky Route 15 Spur near Campton and Kentucky Route 9009 from KY 15 Spur to the parkway's eastern terminus. Both designations are unsigned.[1]

On January 15, 2014, Kentucky governor Steve Beshear announced plans to extend the parkway to US 23 in Prestonsburg, which would include widening the highway to four lanes for its entire length. The project, which would cost more than $750 million and requires approval by the Kentucky General Assembly, would run through 2020, and is expected to lead to the reinstatement of tolls on the highway.[2] On July 26, 2019, Matt Bevin announced a $70M plan to expand the parkway.[3]

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
ClarkWinchester0.0000.000
I-64 west – Lexington, Winchester
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus; I-64 exit 98
10.38016.70510 KY 974 – Mt. Sterling, WinchesterOpened to traffic October 25, 2014
PowellClay City16.41226.41316
KY 15 south / KY 82 – Clay City, Irvine
Northern terminus of KY 82
18.47129.72618 KY 1057 – Clay City
Stanton22.30735.90022 KY 213 – Stanton, Irvine
Slade32.80252.79033 KY 11 – Beattyville, SladeTo Natural Bridge State Resort Park
WolfePine Ridge40.46865.12740 KY 15 / KY 715 – Beattyville, Pine Ridge, RogersFirst eastbound exit in Eastern Kentucky Coal Field or Cumberland Plateau
Campton42.10567.76142 KY 1653 (Quillins Chapel Road)
42.75968.81443

KY 15 Spur to KY 15 – Campton, Jackson, Hazard, Whitesburg
No westbound exit; to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park and Hal Rogers Parkway
43.10469.369Eastern terminus of Mountain Parkway (KY 9000); western terminus of Mountain Parkway Extension (KY 9009)
46.22374.38946 KY 191 – CamptonWestbound exit and eastbound entrance, parkway itself decreases to 2 lanes; will be rebuilt into a full interchange, speed limit decreases from 70 mph to 45 mph construction zone
53.28485.75253 KY 1010 – Hazel Green
57.18892.03557
KY 205 to KY 191 – West Liberty, Jackson
speed limit back up to 70 mph because 4 lane again
Morgan60.40297.20860
KY 134 to KY 191
Was a westbound exit and eastbound entrance; rebuilt into a full interchange
Magoffin67.5108.667
To KY 134 (Kernie-Ova-Seitz Road)
7011070 KY 3050 (Gifford Road)
71.740115.45472 KY 30
Salyersville74.772120.33475

KY 7 to US 460 west – Salyersville
75.627121.710 US 460At-grade intersection and eastern terminus of extension
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Division of Planning - Highway Information System Official Milepoint Route Log Extract". Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  2. ^ Hesterberg, Tanner (January 16, 2014). "Gov. Beshear releases plan for extending, four-laning Mountain Parkway". Hazard, KY: WYMT-TV. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Gov. Matt Bevin, KYTC announce $70M construction project to continue Mountain Parkway expansion".

External links