WYMT NEWS
Route For I-66 Has Been Chosen
Posted: 1:10 AM Aug 28, 2007
Last Updated: 1:20 AM Aug 28, 2007
Reporter: Marie Luby
Email Address: [email protected]

Officials choose the route for the future Interstate 66 between two major southern Kentucky cities.

Not everyone is happy about the decision.

Officials talked to concerned residents about the route during an open house Monday night in London.

A pilot for 60 years, Rowland Moore flew over the scenic state of Kentucky more times than he can remember.

Moore favors a route different from the one he saw at the open house for the future Interstate 66.

From Moore's view, the chosen route is a waste of time, and money.

The route follows most of highway 80, then shoots southeast to intersect with I-75. Officials say it's this way, or no highway.

Laurel County leaders say there's no question about the economic impact of I-66 on places like London.

Officials expect the final go-ahead from the federal government by December 2008...even if opposition continues.

Moore hopes at least the view from the new road, is half as beautiful as the one from the sky.

There is an online clip here:

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/9413256.html

WKYT - WYMT News 57 Mountain News Homepage - All The News, Weather, and Sports from Eastern Kentucky

From Sentinel Echo 8/28/07
I-66 plan causes road rage

400 angry residents attend public meeting
By Carol Mills
Staff Writer

Four years ago, more than 400 concerned citizens gathered around in clusters, poring over four maps showing the corridor bands for the proposed Interstate 66 at a meeting at the London Community Center.

Not since then have so many angry citizens attended an I-66 meeting until Monday evening.

More than 400 concerned citizens again gathered at the center to see for the first time the proposed route (alternate M), selected by the Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways, for the Laurel County section of the interstate.

East of the Rockcastle River, alternate M uses three miles of the existing KY 80 corridor before turning southeast near Bernstadt. Alternate M then crosses KY 192 near Willie Green and Maple Grove roads before connecting with Interstate 75, just south of Autumn Ridge subdivision.

Most of the citizens attending the meeting oppose the proposed road.

Sherry and John Cox live at the corner of Roy Dugger and High Moore roads, in their dream house near the proposed interstate.

“We built our home years ago,” Sherry Cox said tearfully.

“It’s going through my living room, it’s taking every bit of my property,” Cox added. “I retired in order to spend my life there. We’re on the eastern ridge. That’s the only place cucumber magnolia trees grow is on the eastern ridge line. That’s peace and quiet. We have animals, two dogs, birds, wild baby turtles hatch out there every year.”

“A good engineer can figure out a way to use west 80 the way it is and make it work,” said Cox’s husband, John. “People are set to make money on this. That’s what it’s about. They’re going to destroy my wonderful trees I’ve spent 10 years growing. We planted about 300. If we have to move, I’d rather them buy me out today so that I can get along with my life. They’re putting me on hold. It’s not like I have 20 years to redo something. I’m old enough if I have to move, I want to do it now, not later. They’ll probably drag this out for four or five years. It’s not just about property, it’s about the way you live. We’re literally growing a forest on our land because I love trees.”

Jan Sparkman, of Kick I-66, has been against the road from the very beginning.

“I’m pleased they didn’t take it through Cane Creek like they originally wanted to in 1999,” Sparkman said. “That was the original southern route proposed. I’ve always advocated a ‘no build’ option. We have a perfectly good road that could be upgraded a little bit. I think it’s a waste of money. I don’t have any property involved in this, but I still don’t like it. I feel like the public property is my concern, the forest.”

Jane Marie Watts, of Kentucky Heartwood, and Sue Koplowitz, of Kick 66, were getting petitions signed at the door of the London Community Center Monday evening during the meeting.

“We’re trying to organize local opposition to this project and we’re very hopeful because there is no money right now to complete the road,” Watts noted. “Their stated purpose is economic need, but we think there are better ways that money could be spent to adequately develop the area.”

The proposed road would also go through the property of Bige Mills and his son, Clinton, on Whitson School Road.

“I’m actually going to retire in London and they’re trying to tell me they’re going to take my property,” Clinton Mills said. “We’ve bought and paid for it. I don’t really understand how they can take our property for a useless road when you’ve got 80 going through there, a perfectly good road. I already live next to I-75 in Richmond. I don’t want it going through my retirement home.”

The road is only going to take four or five acres of the Mills’ property, but they are concerned about the noise.

“We spent three or four years trying to find a place away from the road,” Bige Mills said. “I even built my house about 500 or 600 feet from the road so that I would be away from traffic. Now, they’re going to put 66 right in behind me. They want to come three miles on 80 and then turn right over through farm land. If they would come one more mile, they would hit four lanes and there wouldn’t be nothing to it but resurfacing. It’s already there.”

“What it comes down to, a couple of politicians, the contractors that build these roads, they’re going to get rich and steal some poor farmer’s land,” Clinton Mills said. “That pretty much sums it up.”

Kathy Vires always knew there was a three out of four chance that the road would take her house on Pleasant View Road, but she was optimistic that it would not.

“Now that I’ve seen the map, I know there is no more optimism,” Vires said.

Gary and Wendi Allen recently bought a 95-acre farm on Whitson School Road, near the proposed interstate.

“It’s only going to take about an acre and a half to two acres, but it won’t leave us access to the rest of it,” Gary Allen explained. “They’re telling us they don’t have to give us access to it. They can pay us a portion of what it’s worth and let us keep it, but we just can’t get to it. That may or may not happen.”

David Beattie, the new project manager, said he had some positive feedback from the meeting.

“It’s hectic adding project manager onto my other tasks, but I think we’ve gotten a lot of good input out of this meeting,” Beattie noted. “We’ve probably had 400 or 500 people, a real good turnout and for the most part, got a lot of good response to it. I’ve mainly not had a lot of people who were extremely upset about it. I’ve talked to several people who were in favor of the project.”

From S-Set Commonwealth Journal:

Published: August 29, 2007 09:09 pm            

Get your pix of I-66

Citizens get first look at Interstate 66 route at open house
By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus
Commonwealth Journal

It was almost like a reception ... without a punch bowl.

An estimated 125 people gathered at The Center for Rural Development Tuesday night to view aerial photo exhibits of the recommended route for Interstate 66 from east of Somerset to I-75 at London.

The two-hour public meeting, referred to by Kentucky Department of Highways officials as an open house, was marked by light-hearted conversations as attendees examined the proposed 30-mile interstate corridor in Pulaski and Laurel counties.

Nobody made a speech. There were no introductory remarks. Nobody verbally protested in the meeting room. A handful of protesters, most of whom are members of an opposition group called Kick 66, stood in a hallway outside the meeting room.

“Protect your home and land. Say no to I-66,” and “You don’t know what you got ‘till it’s gone” were typical of the protest signs. Kick 66 members, for the most part, don’t want the interstate built.

Meanwhile, inside the public meeting place, photographs of the recommended highway corridor were on a scale of one inch equals 500 feet. Property lines were plainly marked so viewers could tell almost exactly where the highway would be built and what properties would be affected.

The proposed 14.5 miles of I-66 in Pulaski County would require acquisition of five businesses, 22 single homes, and 22 mobile homes, according to David Beattie, project manager for I-66 and District 8 pre-construction branch manager. There are 10 single residences and 42 mobile homes within the 15.5-mile corridor in Laurel County. No businesses are in the Laurel County corridor, Beattie noted.

The recommended route begins at the end of the proposed northern bypass of Somerset at a proposed interchange with Ky. 80. This interchange would be about a mile and a quarter west of the Ky. 80-Ky. 461 intersection at Barnesburg.

I-66 would leave Ky. 80 to the south and go cross-country, rejoining the Ky. 80 corridor between Shopville and Stab.

From this point, the route generally follows the Ky. 80 corridor to a point three miles east of the Rockcastle River bridge. Then, it turns southeast, south of Ky. 80, to I-75 at a point south of London near the weigh station.

Comments in writing were taken during the public meeting Tuesday night. Two plastic containers on tables in the center of the open house area had collected surprisingly few comment forms at the end of the meeting. The suggestions will not be made public until the documents become part of the public record, Beattie said.

According to Beattie, the crowd at the open house in Somerset was considerably smaller than the more than 400 who showed up at London on Monday night.

“I really expected more negative comments,” said Beattie, summarizing the London open house. “Most of the negativity came from people whose property is being taken and those who live beside it,” he noted.

Construction of I-66 is several years away.

“If everything went like clockwork, it will be five to eight years before construction begins,” Beattie said.

“We expect to have a final environmental document completed by summer 2008 and a decision by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) by the end of 2008,” said Beattie.

“FHA approval ... that’s when it’s set in stone,” said Beattie. “FHA makes the final decision.”

Estimated total cost — right of way, utilities relocation and construction — for the Pulaski County part of the interstate is $156 million. The Laurel County part will cost about $193 million. “Of course, we’ve got to get the money,” Beattie commented.

Property acquisition would begin no earlier than possibly 2010, Beattie noted. At this point, he said, none of the affected property owners has been directly contacted.

Nationally, I-66 is an interstate originally proposed from northern Virginia to California. Parts of I-66 have been built and in use, parts are proposed and some parts are considered not feasible.

Congressman Hal Rogers steered the I-66 route through the 5th Congressional District and got the corridor near Somerset to provide an interstate route from Pulaski County to I-75. West of Somerset, the corridor follows the Cumberland Parkway.

Here is the link:

http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/local/local_story_241210959.html


From WYMT NEWS:

Governor Fletcher, Congressman Rogers Open New Section of U.S. 27 In Pulaski County

Posted: 7:31 PM Aug 31, 2007
Last Updated: 7:31 PM Aug 31, 2007

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Ernie Fletcher and Congressman Hal Rogers joined state and local officials today to cut the ribbon on a $58 million highway investment in Somerset. The project includes a newly completed section of U.S. 27 and lays the foundation for a portion of the future Interstate 66 corridor.

"Our close partnership with Congressman Rogers and his staff is helping us lay a solid foundation for the future of this entire region," said Governor Fletcher. "Today we christen an investment that will strengthen the local economy and improve safety. The major groundwork for Somerset's northern bypass and the future I-66 corridor is now complete. This solidifies our unyielding commitment to build roads to opportunities."

The project involved a major widening and relocation of 4.7 miles of U.S. 27, from KY 80 to Norwood Road. In addition, preliminary grade and drain work was completed on 1.2 miles of the future I-66 corridor, which will double as Somerset's northern bypass. Groundwork for a new interchange with the future I-66 corridor and U.S. 27 was also included in the contract.

U.S. Rep. Rogers (R-KY 5th), who shepherded federal funding for the project, said the new road and future interstate will have a major impact on the area.

"Investment in our road infrastructure is incredibly important to keeping up with the tremendous growth our region is experiencing," stated Rogers. "Literally, thousands of working men and women, school children, UK alumni headed to the ballgame, and vacationers southbound to beautiful Lake Cumberland, will use this new and improved segment of U.S. 27 everyday. The four lane expansion and realignment will cut down on congestion that clogs our roadways, while providing commuters with greater safety and access - access that includes important linkages to future Interstate 66. I'm pleased to join Governor Fletcher for this ribbon-cutting ceremony and appreciate the state investment and foresight in this critical project."

Transportation Cabinet officials expect to award construction contracts for the remaining sections of the northern and southwestern bypass later this year. Simultaneously, the cabinet continues to push forward with the comprehensive effort to relocate and widen older sections of U.S. 27 from Somerset to Lexington.

"This project will have a significant impact on the future of this community," said Sen. Vernie McGaha (R-Russell Springs). "I appreciate the commitment Governor Fletcher and Congressman Rogers have made to make this project a reality. Thanks to the cooperation among all levels and branches of government, we are marking a significant accomplishment that will provide new opportunities for future generations in Pulaski County."

"This is a momentous day for the people of Pulaski County," said Rep. Tommy Turner (R-Somerset). "I want to thank Congressman Rogers and Governor Fletcher for their continued support for this critical highway project. Looking forward, the stage is now set for a brighter future ahead, as we continue the work together to improve our transportation infrastructure."

Rep. Danny Ford (R-Mt. Vernon) echoed those sentiments. "This is a great day for the people of Pulaski County," said Ford. "Governor Fletcher and Congressman Rogers are to be commended for helping move the U.S. 27 improvements, and the I-66 corridor initiative forward. Both projects will deliver new opportunities to our region."

Traffic will be routed onto the new section of U.S. 27 beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2007. For additional information regarding Kentucky's highway network, visit the Transportation Cabinet's website at www.transportation.ky.gov. For more information about the I-66 corridor visit www.interstate66.com.

Finally, Here is a link to a 2005 Courier Journal article from their website "Land Condemnation-Who Pays the Price" by Roger Dunlop:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS01/50708006&theme=CONDEMN&template=theme

I would think that laws have been passed since then to change condemnation proceedings? This again brings I-66 to national attention since its also federal tax $ we're talking about here.