Kentucky Planning a New Freeway Around Louisville, Raising Alarms

Local news sources are shedding light on planning for a new highway route that could pass through sensitive habitat of endangered that has yet to undertake a formal environmental or public input process.

2 minute read

July 11, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"State officials are studying plans to build a highway around Metro Louisville connecting Interstate 65 and 71, but the proposal will not include public comment or an in-depth environmental review," reports Ryan Van Velzer.

"The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet received $2 million from the legislature last year to plan a highway connecting the highways going through Bullitt and either Henry or Oldham counties" adds Van Velzer.

Plans so far include neither an environmental review nor a public input process. Advocates have already begun calling for those steps to take place earlier in the process, before the state narrows down its options for routes. Right now the state is considering 15 potential routes for the new connector.

The case for the new highway is predicated on the need to provide highway connections to growing communities in Bullitt and either Henry or Oldham counties, outside of Louisville.

Earlier coverage of the proposed connector by Marcus Green details who has been contributing feedback to the project so far, which includes "elected officials and their surrogates, local and state government agencies, chambers of commerce and industrial development organizations." As for which elected officials have been represented by the aforementioned surrogates, according to Greem they include U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Yarmuth.

The state of Kentucky doesn't have a solid record of building necessary highway infrastructure. The Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project was strongly criticized in the planning stages and after the project opened. Aaron Renn refreshed the criticism of that project in June 2019, asking the question of whether the project was the biggest boondoggle of the 21st century.

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 in WFPL

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.