WESTERN KENTUCKY OFFICIALS WANT I-66 THROUGH AREA

Officials in Western Kentucky are trying to have language included in federal legislation that would designate the route for the proposed Interstate 66 through their part of the state.

A designation through Western Kentucky, including Paducah, could increase the likelihood of the route running through Cape Girardeau and along the current Highway 34 corridor to connect with Highway 60 at Van Buren, say I-66 advocates.

"If the route comes out of the state of Kentucky at Paducah, which means it goes through Illinois around Metropolis, it just makes sense to enter the state around Cape Girardeau and follow Highway 34 over to Highway 60 at Van Buren," said Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association and associate director of I-66 Project Inc.

Wildman said if the Western Kentucky designation is included, he will recommend to the I-66 group in this area to "take a route- specific position" as well.

Wildman said having improvements in Highway 34 included in the state's 15-year plan will make it more likely that this corridor could be designated as an I-66 route.

The 15-year plan calls for right of way acquisition for four laning Highway 34; however, it includes construction funds only for a two-lane highway.

District 10 Highway Engineer Freeman McCullah said the current 15-year plan for Highway 34 "does not make provisions for I-66. Right now it is part of the 15-year plan without consideration for I-66."

An "East-West Transamerica Corridor" is included in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.

A feasibility study is currently under way to determine what type of highway could be built and some of the economic impact of a new east-west interstate. When this study is completed next year, it will not deal with specific sites. That will come in a later study.

However, in an appropriations bill that provides $1.275 million of the I-66 feasibility study currently under way, there is some route-specific language that the study will focus on a 50-mile-wide corridor in Kentucky, centering on the cities of Bowling Green, Columbia, Somerset, London, Hazard, Jenkins and Pikeville.

But U.S. Rep. Tom Barlow, a first-term congressman from Western Kentucky, has offered a technical correction to the ISTEA bill to have those cities included in the bill, as well as the Kentucky cities of Paducah, Benton and Hopkinsville.

Bobby Miller, an aide to Barlow in his Washington, D.C., office, said the proposal is before the surface transportation subcommittee of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee.

Said Miller: "There have been various changes in the implementing legislation, but this doesn't change the overall scope, just better defines what is in the legislation. This would do that with respect to the portion of the route that runs through Kentucky."

Miller explained the corridor has never been defined in Kentucky, and at one time there was competition for where the route would go in the state. But he said the competition for various routes has subsided, so Congressman Barlow is attempting to define the Kentucky route.

"If this goes through, then we would like to go back next year and get appropriations money to complete the feasibility study through the remainder of Kentucky," said Miller.

Miller said Barlow's amendment will likely be part of a bill that will come up in Congress later this year. "This idea has just been floated, but it has not gone anywhere yet. It will likely appear in a bill later this year," said Miller.

Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, whose district includes all the area Wildman hopes to have designated as the corridor through this part of Missouri, said Emerson has no plans at this point to seek a specific site.

"It is way premature to take a position on that route," said Smith. "We need to let the process continue and let this feasibility study be completed."

Smith noted that the corridor being looked at by the study is 100 miles wide, which makes it difficult to pinpoint specific routes through Missouri at this time.

"Eventually legislation will be proposed that will have to be somewhat site-specific. That legislation normally would be proposed by the Federal Highway Administration, based on studies and in consultation with highway departments that have been involved," said Smith.

Hal Sullivan, president of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, said people in Western Kentucky are anxious to see language added to run the route from Bowling Green on toward Paducah.

"It is something we would like to come through our part of the state because it makes sense in the way of other intermodal transportation we have here, with river, rail, and the I-24 connection," said Sullivan. "This is certainly a long term project, but it would be of help to the entire Western Kentucky region and the heartland region."

Sullivan said it seems to make sense that if the route runs through Paducah, that it move on through Southern Illinois and to Cape Girardeau.

"From a practical point of view, it appears anything of this nature would want to go north of the Land Between the Lakes region where there are two major waterways and the state park system," said Sullivan. "If it were to come across here and connect with I-24 and go up to cross the Ohio River, it looks like a natural progression to head west in a new highway toward Cape Girardeau."

But Sullivan said a lot will depend on what the feasibility study says. The study will look at futuristic concepts that include capability of buying additional right of way for high speed rail, plus a corridor for pipelines or utility lines.

"The concept is still so open ended, which will leave the route open ended," said Sullivan.

He added that there is a lot of enthusiasm for the potential of having two major interstates intersecting in Paducah, and tying in with other forms of transportation. But, he admits, the effort to have the Western Kentucky route designated will take time.

Said Sullivan: "We think it's the place to be to have it come through here. We want to gain the benefit of that long range development in our region of the state."

If Congressman Barlow is successful getting the amendment approved designating the western Kentucky route, Wildman said "it doesn't mean that's where the route will end up, but it does make a very strong statement."

McCullough said it would be premature for him to discuss Highway 34 as a possible I-66 corridor until after the feasibility study is completed. Location studies for Highway 34 will be started next year by the Highway and Transportation Department, and at that time any information from the I-66 study could be taken into account that is appropriate.

McCullough added that it is likely, a project like I-66 would tie into existing routes where possible.

"In Missouri, it would appear that I-66 would tie in with an existing or planned highway," said McCullough.

Another consideration would be the amount of time required to complete the I-66 project and the extent of the high tech, futuristic components of the highway.

While upgrading Highway 34 is in the state's 15-year plan, McCullough said nothing has been determined yet on how long it would take to build an I-66 concept.