FHWA's Livable Communities Case Study Series

Federal Highway Administration2017PDFBriefUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Planning, Environment, and RealtyUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited StatesKentuckyLivabilityTransportation planningEnvironmental policyMountain roadsSince the 1920s, residents of Letcher County, Kentucky, have been separated by Pine Mountain. The most direct route linking the county seat with the rural, mountainous area of the county is a steep 7.6-mile stretch of U.S. 119 with sharp, shoulderless curves, 60-degree or steeper drops, and unstable rock strata. In several locations, larger vehicles needed to cross the centerline to clear turns. These hazards made it unsafe to travel faster than 10 miles per hour at some points. Bypassing the mountain to reach community destinations adds an hour of travel time. The solution was not as easy as simply widening the road. The mountain's unique environmental features, including the presence of endangered species, its connection to the pristine Presley House Branch watershed, and challenging geologic features presented obstacles not only in terms of engineering and environmental protection but also public support. Beginning in the 1960s, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) conducted many studies to improve the safety of the mountain overpass, but none were implemented. By the late 1990s, KYTC had determined that two-way travel and the 55-mile-per-hour design speed required under the Appalachian Development Highway System[1] would result in right-of-way disturbances 2,000-feet wide. In 2000, a school bus driver died in an accident with a tractor-trailer truck on the road. With emotions high, tension grew between residents who supported a new widened road and environmental groups concerned about the impacts a larger right-of-way would have on the mountain ecosystem.137