The Pennyrile Parkway will be getting an upgrade, after years of hard work and dedication, to bring it up to interstate highway standards so it can officially become I-169.
Local, state and federal officials were on hand for a ground breaking ceremony Thursday, and they were joined by Governor Andy Beshear, who says the $13.9 million project will pave the way for enormous economic growth for western Kentucky and people have been advocating for this for decades.
One of those people was John C. Mahre, who pushed and worked with all levels of government on transportation and infrastructure measures for the region for many years before his death. Former Christian County Judge-Executive Steve Tribble says Mahre was the first one to mention the I-169 possibility to him, and he worked at ever since.
Current Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam says Christian County and Hopkinsville has had huge economic announcements recently, and this will only help keep that going as more people and industries move into the area.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Chief District Engineer Deneatra Henderson says work is set to begin in August, and they’ll be doing upgrades to interchanges, bridge clearance heights, adding bridge railings and more along the 34-mile-long stretch.
Once this project is complete, I-169 signage will start going up, pending Federal Highway Administration approval. The parkway was congressionally designated as future I-169 in May 2017.
