Kentucky plans to designate 70-mile section of Natcher Parkway as future I-65 spur

Updated Sep 9, 2016

Kentucky welcome signKentucky plans to designate a 70-mile section of the William H. Natcher Parkway between Bowling Green and Owensboro as the “Future Interstate 65 Spur” as a means of attracting “key investors” to that part of the state in addition to improving the commute for motorists.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) says this designation makes the roadway a federally recognized corridor, which should make it enticing to business for location purposes particularly following the expected upgrades to interstate standards.

These upgrades will include improvements to bridge rails and guardrails, updates to entrance and exit ramps, new and/or modified interchanges and raising overpass bridges to add vertical clearance.

KTC also reports $20 million of federal funding are included as part of its six-year highway plan for the upgrades, in addition to a $13.81 million project to reconstruct the interchange at the Natcher Parkway and U.S. 231 intersection.

Eight “Future Interstate 65 Spur” signs also will be added near the Daviess, Ohio, Butler and Warren county lines, as well as at the interchanges of the Natcher Parkway and I-65 in Bowling Green and Natcher Parkway and U.S. 60 in Owensboro.

“We stand firm behind our commitment of unlocking the infinite economic potential that this spur will have,” says Gov. Matt Bevin. “From its inception, Congressman (Brett) Guthrie (R-Kentucky) has championed this project each step of the way. I applaud his diligent efforts as well as our federal and state partners to help secure the necessary funding to begin the process.”

“Nearly two years ago I joined state and local leaders to discuss a path forward for the Natcher Parkway and the designation as a future I-65 spur was a top priority for me in the latest highway bill,” Guthrie says. “I am pleased to see that we are one step closer to making this designation a reality and I look forward to the opportunities that it will create for western Kentucky.”

KTC has not set a timeline for completing the project, but expects to develop a scope of work by the end of the year, at which point it can start scheduling projects for bid proposals.