I-65 SECTION A WIDENING PROJECT

 State:
Commonwealth of
Kentucky
 
Agency:
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
 
Dates:
2000  - 2002
 
Rural and/or Urban:
Rural
 
Length:
7.0  Miles (Approx)
 
Type of
Improvement:
Interstate Widening
 
Project Management:
 
Project Manager -
Vinay K. Polepalli, PE, PMP
 
 
 

HARDIN, LARUE AND HART COUNTIES, KENTUCKY

(Mr. Polepalli has worked on the following project as a project manager while he was employed by another consluting firm in Kentucky.)

The purpose of the project was to improve the capacity of the interstate segment and also improve the geometric design of existing interchanges within the project limits to meet the current design and safety standards.

Existing Conditions:

Interstate 65 section within the project limits is heavily traveled by trucks and cars alike. Truck traffic accounts for approximately 40% of the total traffic volume and as a result of which the pavement is in considerable distress. Further, capacity analysis of this section of interstate indicated an unacceptable level of service. Investigation of geometric design of existing interchanges revealed that acceleration and deceleration lane lengths are inadequate. Several existing drainage structures were silted up completely.

Proposed Methodology:

Phase I Design Services for I-65 widening and reconstruction project began just north of Munfordville interchange (MP 64.8) and ends at Western Kentucky Parkway (MP 91.3) in Elizabethtown. Three different typical section alternatives were evaluated and a final typical section was picked based on several considerations such as cost of construction, right-of-way takings and impacts to the drainage structures, bridge structures etc. This area of the project being in karst topography, extensive erosion control measures were designed to decontaminate the storm water entering into the sink holes. Special precautions were taken to cap the sinkholes that were affected.

Capacity analysis was performed on the entire length of the project segment to identify the existing level of service and analyze the required capacity for the design year traffic volumes. Two different interchange design alternatives were developed for consideration and an alternative was chosen for a final design. Interchange geometric design sheets were prepared for approval by the central office. Maintenance of traffic was performed on the entire stretch of the project. Preliminary drainage folders were prepared for submittal. Culvert situation sheets were prepared were necessary.