Pike County Chamber of Commerce: Transportation

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Transportation

Pike County Roads Pike County's transportation infrastructure has improved dramatically in the past decade. Furthermore, officials have secured millions in funding, which guarantees it will continue to improve during the next decade as well.

PIKEVILLE CUT-THRU PROJECT

One of this hemisphere's largest engineering and earth-moving achievements, second only to the Panama Canal, the Pikeville Cut-Thru is a channel 1,300 feet wide, 3,700 feet long and 523 feet deep. The New York Times called it "the eighth wonder of the world." Devised as a plan to create land for expansion and development, the project was the brainchild of Pikeville mayor Dr. William C. Hambley. Dedicated October 2, 1987, almost 14 years from when it began, most of the 390 acres has now been developed with multi-family housing projects, residential subdivisions, expansion for Pikeville College, the Pike County Health Department, Mountain Comprehensive Care, parking for Pikeville Methodist Hospital, a Cinema, medical buildings, office buildings, the Pike County Housing Authority, a multipurpose outdoor recreation facility (Bob Amos Park), and headquarters for a local communication services provider. The Cut-Thru stands as testimony to this mountain community's determination to meet any challenges it faces. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Highway District 12, oversees construction and maintenance of all state roads and federal highways in Pike county. District headquarters in Pikeville monitor more than 380 engineers, right-of-way agents, planning, preconstruction, design, maintenance, construction, materials, and traffic specialists.

MAJOR HIGHWAYS

U.S. 23

The completion of the four-laning of U.S. 23 through Pike County was a significant accomplishment. U.S. 23, declared by the state legislature as "The Country Music Highway," is now four lanes all the way. The completion of the Pike County four lane sections made U.S. 23 a major north-south connector route, opening the region to new markets and economic opportunities. Some sections of the highway in Pike County have more than 30,000 vehicles traveling daily, with the number projected to double by 2025. During the 2002 and 2003 construction seasons, this four-lane highway has seen major rehabilitation work in Pike, Floyd, Johnson, and Lawrence counties, making the drive through Pike County safer, more relaxing, and more conducive to the enjoyment of the area's natural beauty. This is the most heavily traveled road south of I-65 and east of I-75. One section in Pike County, north of downtown Pikeville, is currently being widened to six lanes.

U.S. 119

U.S. 119, long an impediment to full development of eastern Pike County, is well on its way to being four lanes from Pikeville to Charleston, W.Va. Two mountains, Coburn and Bent, between Pond Creek and Pikeville were both decimated by construction crews and replaced by modern four-lane highways. Not only did this re-construction improve the safety of 119, the travel time from Pikeville to the Belfry-South Williamson area was significantly reduced. All sections of U.S. 119 between Pikeville and Belfry are funded in the state's six-year road plan, with construction on all sections scheduled to begin by 2003, meaning the drive from Pikeville to Charleston, W.Va, will soon be four lanes all the way. All sections of what locals call "New US 119" are either under construction or completed. This important artery links Eastern Kentucky with our West Virginia neighbors and joins US 23 in Pikeville, winding south into Virginia.

U.S. 460

The first two sections of a four-laned U.S. 460, running from U.S. 23 near Shelby Valley High School to the Virginia state line near the Breaks Interstate Park, is scheduled to be under construction in 2001. This vital highway will open several thousand new acres in Pike County for economic and housing developments and will provide quicker, safer access to the Elkhorn City area, home to one of Kentucky's greatest tourism assets, the Breaks Interstate Park, and birthplace of country music star Patty Loveless. Plans are on a fast track to build a "New US 460," a four-lane highway to replace the current two-lane road that connects Pike County to southwestern Virginia and its planned Coalfields Expressway. Access to Elkhorn City and Breaks Interstate Park will be enormously enhanced, as driving time for residents and visitors will be reduced significantly. The first section is under construction and right-of-way work is progressing rapidly on this project.

I-66

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is currently planning the route for the new Interstate 66, which will sweep through Pike County and across Southeastern Kentucky, eventually linking the region with the east and west coasts. The route for I-66 was selected in late 2001. Construction of the sections between Pikeville and West Virginia could possibly begin as early as 2003.

PIKE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT

Highways are not the only transportation improvement in Pike County in recent years. The Pike County Regional Airport, Hatcher Field, has seen several major improvements. The Airport Board has been extremely active in its push for expanded services and facilities. The new airport road will ultimately be extended into Lower Johns Creek, thus connecting the area with U.S. 23 at Harmon's Branch, north of Pikeville. Improved highways and air services have opened Pike County up to a new century of commercial and leisure transportation choices.