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 freeway with only minor design standard differences from an Interstate Highway, while the remainder is a limited access Super two highway.
 Mountain Parkway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by KYTC | |
| Length | 75.627 mi[1] (121.710 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  I-64 near Winchester |
| East end |  US 460 near Salyersville |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Counties | Clark, Powell, Wolfe, Morgan, Magoffin |
| Highway system | |
| |
History
edit
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 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]
Future
editOn 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] Currently, Kentucky is planning to make $400 million in improvements to extend the parkway.[4]
Exit list
edit| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | Winchester | 0.000 | 0.000 |  I-64 west – Lexington, Winchester | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus; I-64 exit 98 | |
| | 10.380 | 16.705 | 10 |  KY 974 – Mt. Sterling, Winchester | Opened to traffic October 25, 2014 | |
| Powell | Clay City | 16.412 | 26.413 | 16 |    KY 15 south / KY 82 – Clay City, Irvine | Northern terminus of KY 82 |
| 18.471 | 29.726 | 18 |  KY 1057 – Clay City | |||
| Stanton | 22.307 | 35.900 | 22 |  KY 213 – Stanton, Irvine | ||
| Slade | 32.802 | 52.790 | 33 |  KY 11 – Beattyville, Slade | To Natural Bridge State Resort Park | |
| Wolfe | Pine Ridge | 40.468 | 65.127 | 40 |  KY 15 / KY 715 – Beattyville, Pine Ridge, Rogers | First eastbound exit in Eastern Kentucky Coal Field or Cumberland Plateau |
| Campton | 42.105 | 67.761 | 42 |  KY 1653 (Quillins Chapel Road) | ||
| 42.759 | 68.814 | 43 |   KY 15 Spur to KY 15 – Campton, Jackson, Hazard, Whitesburg | No westbound exit; to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park and Hal Rogers Parkway | ||
| 43.104 | 69.369 | Eastern terminus of Mountain Parkway (KY 9000); western terminus of Mountain Parkway Extension (KY 9009) | ||||
| | 46.223 | 74.389 | 46 |  KY 191 – Campton | Was a westbound exit and eastbound entrance, rebuilt into a full interchange; parkway itself decreases to 2 lanes and speed limit decreases from 70 mph to 45 mph construction zone | |
| | 53.284 | 85.752 | 53 |  KY 1010 – Hazel Green | ||
| | 57.188 | 92.035 | 57 |  KY 205 to KY 191 – West Liberty, Jackson | speed limit back up to 70 mph because 4 lane again | |
| Morgan | | 60.402 | 97.208 | 60 |  KY 134 to KY 191 | Was a westbound exit and eastbound entrance; rebuilt into a full interchange |
| Magoffin | | 67.7 | 109.0 | 68 |  KY 1257 (Cow Creek Road) | Interchange opened October 3, 2024 |
| | 70.2 | 113.0 | 70 |  KY 3050 (Gifford Road) | ||
| | 71.740 | 115.454 | 72 |  KY 30 | ||
| Salyersville | 74.772 | 120.334 | 75 |   KY 7 to US 460 west – Salyersville | ||
| 75.627 | 121.710 | US 460 | At-grade intersection and eastern terminus of extension | |||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Gov. Matt Bevin, KYTC announce $70M construction project to continue Mountain Parkway expansion".
- ^ Bittenbender, Steve (22 August 2023). "Kentucky, Indiana want more than $630M in federal funding for I-69 project". The Center Square. Retrieved 22 August 2023.