Interstate 75 in Kentucky

This article is about the section of Interstate 75 in Kentucky. For the entire route, see Interstate 75.

Interstate 75 (I-75) runs from near Williamsburg to Covington by way of Lexington in the US state of Kentucky. I-75 enters the Cumberland Plateau region from Tennessee, then descends into the Bluegrass region through the Pottsville Escarpment before crossing the Ohio River into Ohio. I-75 follows along the U.S. Route 25 (US 25) corridor for the entire length of Kentucky.

Interstate 75
I-75 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KYTC
Length	191.78 mi^[1] (308.64 km)
Existed	1960s^[2]–present
NHS	Entire route
Major junctions
South end	I-75 at Tennessee state line
Major intersections	US 25 / US 421 in Richmond US 60 in Lexington I-64 in Lexington US 62 in Georgetown I-71 in Walton US 127 / US 42 in Florence I-275 in Erlanger
North end	I-71 / I-75 at Ohio state line
Location
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Counties	Whitley, Laurel, Rockcastle, Madison, Fayette, Scott, Grant, Boone, Kenton
Highway system
Interstate Highway System Main Auxiliary Suffixed Business Future Kentucky State Highway System Interstate US State Parkways
← KY 74 → KY 76

Route description

 

I-75 (and I-71) heading northbound into Cincinnati from Covington

I-75 runs roughly parallel to US 25 for its entire length in Kentucky. The freeway enters Kentucky south of Williamsburg in the Cumberland Plateau, bypassing Corbin and London before descending into the Bluegrass region near Berea through the Pottsville Escarpment. The highway continues north through Richmond en route to Lexington. It meets and then becomes briefly concurrent with I-64 along the north and east sides of Lexington, before leaving the Lexington area northerly and bypassing Georgetown en route to Cincinnati, Ohio. Just south of Florence, the route enters the Cincinnati metropolitan area and becomes concurrent with I-71. The two routes remain concurrent through to Downtown Cincinnati. On the north side of Florence, I-75 intersects with the only auxiliary route it has in the state, I-275, a beltway bypass of the greater Cincinnati area. It then passes through Covington and crosses the Ohio River via the lower level of the Brent Spence Bridge into Ohio.^[3]

History

The stretch through Covington originally included hills and curves steeper than those recommended for Interstate Highway standards. As a result, the northbound descent into Cincinnati, known as Cut-in-the-Hill, was nicknamed "Death Hill".^[4][5] It is a steep descent into the valley of the Ohio River between Kyles Lane and the Brent Spence Bridge leading into Downtown Cincinnati.^[6] The hill is known for its high number of automobile accidents.^[7][8] In 2006, the Cut-in-the-Hill averaged over seven times more accidents when compared to similar roadways in Kentucky.^[7]

At the Cut-in-the-Hill, the northbound road takes a sharp left turn into a steep grade down to the Ohio River—about 370 feet (110 m) in four miles (6.4 km).^[9] Accidents are usually attributed to a combination of speeding, curvy lanes, poor weather, longer stopping times for trucks traveling downhill, and traffic congestion.^[7]

The area earned the sobriquet "Death Hill"^[9][10] shortly after I-75 opened in 1962.^[9] By 1968, a total of 23 people died in crashes on the hill,^[9] so a concrete wall was installed to separate northbound and southbound traffic.^[9] The wall helped reduce fatal crashes, but accidents continued, and, in 1977, the hill averaged 583 automobile accidents per year.^[9]

In 1986, a tractor-trailer lost control, leading to an accident that caused a Northern Kentucky University student to burn to death in his car.^[9] As a result, Governor Martha Layne Collins banned most northbound tractor-trailer traffic from the hill.^[9] From 1989 until 1994, $50 million (equivalent to $84.1 million in 2021^[11]) in reconstruction was spent to straighten the hill's S-curve and add a fourth lane for southbound traffic,^[7] and, in 1995, the truck ban was lifted.^[7] Also as part of the reconstruction, ramps were added at Pike Street to give complete access, while an interchange with Jefferson and Euclid avenues was obliterated.^[4]

In 2006, the hill and the Brent Spence Bridge saw 151 crashes in the northbound direction and 121 crashes in the southbound direction, totaling 272 in all.^[12] To help reduce the number of accidents, a flashing "Steep Grade" sign was installed^[12] and a Kentucky State Police trooper was assigned to patrol just the Cut-in-the-Hill.^[7] Additionally, eight radar speed signs were installed in 2007 to remind motorists to drive a safer speed.^[13]

The Cut-in-the-Hill was originally designed to carry up to 80,000 vehicles per day, but, in 2006, it carried 155,000 daily.^[7] Kentucky officials are reportedly working to raise more than $2 billion to replace the section of highway,^[7] but, as of 2012^[update], no construction is planned.^[7]

Exit list

County	Location	mi^[a]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Whitley	​	0.000	0.000		I-75 south – Knoxville	Continuation into Tennessee
	Williamsburg	10.548	16.975	11	KY 92 to US 25W – Williamsburg, Pineville
		15.456	24.874	15	US 25W – Williamsburg
	Corbin	24.670	39.703	25	US 25W (Cumberland Falls Highway) – Corbin
Laurel	North Corbin	28.852	46.433	29	To Cumberland Gap Parkway / US 25 / US 25E – Corbin, Barbourville
	London	38.187	61.456	38	KY 192 (B. W. Ridge Road) to Hal Rogers Parkway – London
		40.708	65.513	41	KY 80 (Hal Rogers Parkway) – London, Somerset, Hazard
	East Bernstadt	49.132	79.070	49	KY 909 to US 25 (Wilderness Road Heritage Highway) – Livingston
Rockcastle	Mount Vernon	58.966	94.897	59	US 25 (Wilderness Road Heritage Highway) to US 150 – Mt. Vernon, Livingston
		62.013	99.800	62	US 25 (Richmond Street) to KY 461 – Mt. Vernon, Renfro Valley
Madison	Berea	75.516	121.531	76	KY 21 (E. Chestnut Street, W. Paint Lick Road) to US 25 – Berea
		77.468	124.673	77	KY 595 (Walnut Meadow Pike) to KY 956 – Berea
	Richmond	82.832	133.305	83	KY 2872 (Duncannon Lane) to US 25 – Richmond
		87.150	140.254	87	KY 876 (Eastern Bypass) – Richmond, Lancaster
		89.833	144.572	90	US 25 / US 421 (Robert R. Martin Bypass) – Richmond, Irvine	Signed as 90B (north) and 90A (south) southbound; northbound exit also connects to businesses on Northgate and Lexington roads (signed as Service Access Road)
		94.715	152.429	95	KY 627 (Boonesborough Road) – Boonesborough, Winchester
		97.038	156.168	97	US 25 south / US 421 south (Lexington Road) – Richmond, Clays Ferry	South end of US 25 / US 421 overlap
Kentucky River		97.541– 97.865	156.977– 157.498	Clays Ferry Bridge
Fayette	Lexington	98.516	158.546	99	US 25 north / US 421 north (Old Richmond Road) – Lexington, Clays Ferry	North end of US 25 / US 421 overlap
		103.890	167.195	104	KY 418 (Athens-Boonesborough Road) – Lexington, Athens, Boonesborough
		108.247	174.207	108	KY 1425 (Man o' War Boulevard) – Lexington	KY 1425 not signed
		109.677	176.508	110	US 60 (Winchester Road) – Lexington, Winchester
		110.829	178.362	111	I-64 east – Winchester, Ashland	South end of I-64 overlap; I-64 exit 81
		112.834	181.589	113	US 27 / US 68 (Broadway) – Lexington, Paris
		115.226	185.438	115	KY 922 (Newtown Pike) to Bluegrass Parkway – Lexington, Blue Grass Airport
		117.665	189.363	118	I-64 west – Frankfort, Louisville	North end of I-64 overlap; I-64 exit 75
		119.873	192.917	120	KY 1973 (Iron Works Pike) to US 25 – Lexington, Georgetown
Scott	Georgetown	124.868	200.956	125	US 460 (Paris Pike) – Georgetown, Paris	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		125.528	202.018	126	US 62 (Cherry Blossom Way) – Georgetown, Cynthiana
		126.764	204.007	127	KY 3552 (Lexus Way)	Opened November 1, 2016;^[23] provides access for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
		129.199	207.926	129	KY 620 (Cherry Blossom Way) to US 25 – Georgetown
	Sadieville	136.468	219.624	136	KY 32 (Porter Road) to US 25 – Sadieville, Cynthiana
Grant	Corinth	144.443	232.458	144	KY 330 (Owenton Road) – Corinth, Owenton
	Williamstown	154.175	248.121	154	KY 36 to US 25 – Williamstown, Owenton
		155.772	250.691	156	KY 1560 (Barnes Road) – Williamstown
	Dry Ridge	158.544	255.152	159	KY 22 / KY 467 (Broadway Street) – Dry Ridge, Owenton
	Crittenden	165.901	266.992	166	KY 491 (Violet Road) – Crittenden
Kenton	No major junctions
Boone	Walton	171.378	275.806	171	KY 14 / KY 16 (Mary Grubbs Highway) to US 25 – Walton, Verona
		173.532	279.273	173	I-71 south – Louisville	South end of I-71 overlap; I-71 exit 77
	Union	175.392	282.266	175	KY 338 (Richwood Drive) to US 25 – Richwood, Union, Walton
		178.019	286.494	178	KY 536 (Mt. Zion Road) – Union, Independence
	Florence	180.45	290.41	180	US 127 / US 42 – Florence, Union, Erlanger
		180.464	290.429	180A	Mall Road	No northbound exit; access to Florence Mall
		181.178	291.578	181	KY 18 (Burlington Pike) – Florence, Burlington
		182.378	293.509	182	KY 1017 (Turfway Road) / KY 842 – Florence	Southbound access via right-in/right-out with Thoroughbred Boulevard
Kenton	Erlanger	183.685	295.612	184	KY 236 (Commonwealth Avenue, Donaldson Highway) – Erlanger	Signed as 184B (west) and 184A (east) southbound
		184.708	297.259	185	I-275 to I-471 north – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport	I-275 exit 84
	Fort Mitchell	186.274	299.779	186	KY 371 (Buttermilk Pike) – Fort Mitchell, Crescent Springs
		187.675	302.034	188	US 25 / US 127 / US 42 (Dixie Highway) – Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright
	Fort Wright	188.585	303.498	189	KY 1072 (Kyles Lane) – Fort Wright, Park Hills
	Covington			190	Jefferson Avenue, Euclid Avenue	Exit removed in 1994^[4]
		190.453	306.504	191	US 25 / US 127 / US 42 (Pike Street) / Twelfth Street / Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard – Covington
		191.132	307.597	192	Fifth Street (KY 8) – Covington, Newport	KY 8 not signed
Ohio River		191.366– 191.777	307.974– 308.635	Brent Spence Bridge
					I-71 north / I-75 north – Cincinnati	Continuation into Ohio
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

Notes

1. Milepoint route logs reset at county lines. Lengths are determined by adding subsequent county miles.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]}

References

1. Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 3: Interstate Routes in Each of the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
2. Hogan, Doug; Curry, Selena (June 28, 2006). (Press release). Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007.
3. Department of Planning (May 2018). "State Primary Road System". Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
   • Whitley County
   • Laurel County
   • Rockcastle County
   • Madison County
   • Fayette County
   • Scott County
   • Grant County
   • Kenton County
   • Boone County
4. Calhoun, Jim (March 20, 1994). "End near for Death Hill?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. B1, B4. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
5. Smith, Steve; et al. (2007). "Around Town". Cincinnati USA City Guide. Cincinnati Magazine. p. 79. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
6. . WLWT. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
7. Saladin, Luke E. (January 6, 2007). "Is Cut-in-the-Hill unsafe?". Cincinnati Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
8. "Aggressive Driving Crackdown Starts". Kentucky Post. October 7, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
9. Eigelbach, Kevin (January 31, 2007). "Is I-75 Cut plan making the grade?". Kentucky Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
10. Saladin, Luke E. (January 11, 2007). "Why 'Cut' warning might work". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
11. Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved January 1, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
12. Rutledge, Mike (January 10, 2007). "'Cut-in-hill' wrecks pile up: 272 crashes in '06; warning will flash". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
13. Kettler, Shannon (September 17, 2007). "New Radar Speed Signs On Display On I-75". Kentucky Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
14. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Whitley County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
15. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Laurel County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
16. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Rockcastle County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
17. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Madison County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
18. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Fayette County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
19. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Scott County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
20. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Grant County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
21. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Kenton County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
22. Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Boone County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
23. "I-75 Interchange Project begins in Scott County, state officials announce". The News-Graphic. March 27, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2016.

External links

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