Re: Trip Report: Cincinnati to Atlanta

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 00:14:25 -0400, Pete Jenior wrote:

>Going south from I-71, US 127 is slow and curvy for the first few miles.
>The road then comes to a T intersection where you turn left to follow US
>127. This is a high-speed, more modern route that does connect to I-71 but
>is designated as KY 35 north of the junction.

US 127 is a fairly recent US highway (mid to late 50s in Kentucky and Tennessee)
designation. Most of the route in Kentucky was designated KY 35. When the US
route was added, it multiplexed with US 42 and replaced (I think) KY 289 for
that curvy section you mentioned between I-71 and present day KY 35.

Unless some construction has been done, KY 35 is improved north of US 127 only
to Sparta. The climb up the hill to I-71 and the Kentucky Speedway is similar to
the part of 127 you were on, unless it has been rebuilt in the several years
since I've been up there.

>South of downtown Owenton there is construction. Some of US 127 and KY 22
>is being straightened, which will be quite nice. I had been through Owenton
>before but at the time I forgot that US 127 makes a right turn heading
>southbound. It wasn't well marked (if it was marked at all) because of the
>construction, and I ended up on KY 22. After a few miles of twisty narrow
>roadway I began to suspect I was no longer on 127, and I saw a KY 22
>reassurance marker right about the time I had made up my mind to turn
>around.

Hmmm, odd. I haven't been to see my Owenton-dwelling brother in awhile, but the
US 127/KY 22/KY 227 intersection was rebuilt several years ago. It used to be a
"Y" with a vehicle repair shop in the middle of the "Y." The "Y" was replaced
with a "T" with a traffic light. I can't see the need for any construction
between downtown Owenton and the 127/22/227 intersection because the road was
already wide and straight. Now there may be some construction out past that
intersection, past the Chevy dealer and Dairy Queen and all the schools. I think
I remember some work was to be done in that area.

>In Frankfort 127 makes another sudden turn. It'd obvious that 127 wasn't
>always the primary route in some of the areas it passes through, but poorly
>marked turns aside it is certainly a good route between I-64 and I-71.

The West Frankfort Connector was originally signed as KY 1211 (I believe). US
127 continued straight under the US 421 underpass on what is now KY 2261, met US
60 in downtown Frankfort, and was multiplexed across the Kentucky River and up
to the existing intersection. A couple of years after the West Frankfort
Connector was opened, the decision was made to route 127 along that route and
the result is a wrong-way multiplex. When you were going south on 127, you were
going north on 421, and you passed the building where I worked for six years.

>127 is a busy, built-up road between I-64 and , but traffic moved fairly
>well.

Do you mean Lawrenceburg, Harrodsburg or Danville?

>US 127 makes a very short multiplex with KY 90. It seems like this could be
>taken out...

As you could probably tell, KY 90 (an Appalachian corridor) has been modernized.
US 127 has been rerouted several times between KY 90 (both old and new) and
Albany. It's hard to explain the actual routings but it has been on several
routes in that area.

>As Froggie recently mentioned, TN 111 meets US 127 right at the state line
>and there is virtually no signage at all. At the last possible moment,
>mixed in with all of the other signs found at a state line, there is a
>single TN 111 shield located in a position that drivers might easily miss.

I can't remember what signage existed when I drove down to the Nashville meet in
February, but I knew where the turn was so I didn't have any trouble.

>There are some 4 lane stretches of 127 between the state line and I-40, but
>none are shown in my 04 Rand McNally. Does TN have long term plans to widen
>long stretches of 127?

The only time I have been on any of 127 south of the state line, I got on at
Jamestown, Tenn. (where TN 52 intersects) and drove north. In the area of the
Jamestown bypass, 127 was two lanes on a four-lane grade. I think it may have
actually expanded to four lanes under some of the overpasses at the interchanges
but narrowed back to two. Has there been any expansion to four lanes in that
area, or improvements between Jamestown, Tenn. and the state line?

>Traffic got lighter after passing TN 111. Having been on 111 before, I can
>say that it is the better way to Chattanooga.
>
>127's crossing of Signal Mountain was fun to drive, and there was a wayside
>at the top with a nice view.

I am considering my next trip and am thinking about going south to Chattanooga
on 111 from Cookeville, and be interested to see the area.

I'll ask my brother about access to Lock 3; he fishes on the river in the area
some.


--
To reply by e-mail, remove the "restrictor plate"
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Trip Report: Cincinnati to Atlanta
    ... >>Going south from I-71, US 127 is slow and curvy for the first few miles. ... >>The road then comes to a T intersection where you turn left to follow US ... Most of the route in Kentucky was designated KY 35. ... >>South of downtown Owenton there is construction. ...
    (misc.transport.road)
  • Re: Road Trip Report: KY-OH
    ... > There's no stoplight at the intersection in Ripley where US 62/68 leaves ... Past that, US 68 is an improved two-lane route and in many cases, ... > identified in Rand McNally as "Ohio Brush Creek" but on the sign at the ... There is both an Ohio Brush Creek and a Scioto Brush Creek. ...
    (misc.transport.road)
  • Re: Road Trip Report: KY-OH
    ... >> There's no stoplight at the intersection in Ripley where US 62/68 leaves ... Past that, US 68 is an improved two-lane route and in many cases, ... >There is both an Ohio Brush Creek and a Scioto Brush Creek. ... >It does seem odd that there is no stoplight there, ...
    (misc.transport.road)
  • Re: Road Trip Report: KY-OH
    ... OH-335 multiplexes with US-23 and OH-104 so that it can actually ... every other route that passes through the town. ... > immediately was faced with the I-71 exit. ... > inner loop) was rough, rough, rough. ...
    (misc.transport.road)
  • Re: Highways ending at each other
    ... with secondary route 190 in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. ... T-intersection with 19 continuing through the intersection). ... which does not appear to be unusual in Hawaii. ... continues on Palani Road through the QKH intersection, ...
    (misc.transport.road)
Loading