WARSAW — Kentucky Speedway in Sparta and Belterra Casino & Resort in nearby Vevay, Ind., will get a Valentine today when Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton announces plans for a new interchange and connector road between Interstate 71 and U.S. 42.

        The construction, on the state's six-year highway plan drawing board for some time, will include the widening of a section of I-71 for an additional lane in Gallatin County to move traffic more quickly and safely into the speedway interchange at Ky. 35 during racing events and concerts.

Traffic outside the Kentucky Speedway last June illustrates a reason for road-work plans. (Enquirer photo) | ZOOM |

        The new interchange and connector road, which will reportedly run to the Markland Dam bridge linking Kentucky with Indiana near Vevay, will benefit a number of businesses on both sides of the river.

        John Spina, general manager of Belterra Casino & Resort near the Markland Dam, said Tuesday the new connector would provide a quicker path to the floating casino for people from Lexington and the east side of Louisville, as well as parts of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, to the floating casino and hotel outside Vevay.

        “It will also be a big help to a lot of the companies and factories along the Ohio River on the Kentucky side,” he said. “That new connector will let the 18-wheelers (trucks) move back and forth more safely between I-71 and the factories.”

        One the largest companies in the county is Gallatin Steel, which has semitractor-trailer trucks moving constantly up the hill from the plant site along U.S. 42 to I-71. The trucks now must move through Warsaw and south on Ky. 35 to I-71, or follow U.S. 42 north to pick up I-71/I-75.

        Joining the governor for today's press conference at the Gallatin County Courthouse is state Secretary of Transportation James Coddell.

        State officials are expected to announce that the widening of I-71 will be completed in time for the first race of the season at Kentucky Speedway in June.

        The extra lane will permit traffic to flow more freely into the racetrack before events and away from the track after events.

        The new interchange and connector road, south of the speedway, won't be completed until 2002. But the speedway expects to have a second entrance from the rear of its property to the new connector road, providing a second ingress/egress to the facility.

        Last year, the speedway's opener was hampered by heavy rain that soaked the parking areas and resulted in a 7-mile-long traffic backup on I-71.

        Traffic moved more quickly during the track's other events last summer, but the crush of so many vehicles filling the two lanes of I-71 and turning into Ky. 35 and the speedway resulted in traffic delays.
       

Comair offer boost pilot talks
Chopping away at heating bills
Firm seeks tax incentive
RADEL: Love, devotion of a lifetime
Morgue photos have parallel in Colorado
Newest councilman says people listen now
Pig gig brought $59M to economy
Power plant won't go up in Trenton
Badin hopes time right for fund-raiser
Drug raid translates to prison
House under construction destroyed
OxyContin advisory issued
Prosecutor backs second judgeship
SAMPLES: Fighting Krabbe
Beer sales decision delayed
Butler election official battles to keep position
Conventions going elsewhere
'Creation' magazine founder to talk
CSX sees role in reducing traffic
Ex-governor's creditors listed
Kenton candidate hires D.C.-area pollster
Kenton County rezone to attract industry
Meetings are going elsewhere
Officials re-create scene of twins' deaths
Ohio board turns down requests for shifts to new school district
Parks spend some green
Rep. Boehner on the hot seat
Road work to relieve traffic near speedway
Teller fatally shot at Louisville bank; robber flees scene
Trial lawyer to head county GOP
Universal trash pickup dead
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report