Transportation Cabinet
Newtown Pike Extension project ranked one of nation’s best

Will compete for national excellence award

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 1, 2011) –The first completed phase of the Newtown Pike Extension project in Lexington has been recognized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as one of the best transportation projects in the United States.

AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce co-sponsor America’s Transportation Awards, an annual competition to recognize the best transportation projects in America in three general categories – On Time, Under Budget, and Innovative Management.

The 10 projects emerged from four regional contests involving 40 projects from 29 states. The top 10 will now compete for America’s Transportation Awards’ Grand Prize, selected by a panel of judges. A People’s Choice Award will be decided by the general public in online voting that began today and will continue through Oct. 7, 2011, at www.AmericasTransportationAward.org. The two awards will be presented Oct. 16 at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Detroit.

The Newtown Pike Extension Phase IV won the Southeastern regional competition for a project under $25 million that was completed “on time.”  The roadway opened to traffic two weeks prior to the beginning of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park.

When all phases of the $16 million project are completed, Newtown Pike will connect Interstates 75 and 64 on the north side of Lexington to the University of Kentucky campus. It also will reduce congestion in downtown Lexington and encourage redevelopment of a 1.5-mile corridor. Plans for such a connector can be found dating to the 1930s.

The overall project also includes Environmental Justice mitigation to protect residents of the low-income Davistown neighborhood from the pressures of development, and provide much-needed low income housing in downtown Lexington.

Panelists representing the American business community, police and/or emergency workers and transportation experts from university transportation centers judged entries at both the regional and national levels.

###