 Pennyrile Parkway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by KYTC | |
| Length | 71.306 mi[1] (114.756 km) |
| Existed | 1969–2017 |
| History | Opened in 1969[2] Northern section from Western Kentucky Parkway to Henderson redesignated as I-69 and US 41 on November 12, 2015 Southern section from W.K Parkway to I-24 redesignated as I-169 May 7, 2017 |
| Major junctions | |
| South end |  I-24 near Hopkinsville |
  US 41 Alt. in Hopkinsville
 US 62 in Nortonville Western Kentucky Parkway in Nortonville Audubon Parkway in Henderson | |
| North end |  I-69 near Madisonville |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| Counties | Christian, Hopkins, Webster, Henderson |
| Highway system | |
| |
The Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway was the designation for the 71.3-mile (114.7 km) freeway from Henderson to Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The parkway originally began at an interchange with the Audubon Parkway and US 41 near the city of Henderson. It travelled south through rolling hills to its former southern terminus at Interstate 24 (I-24) south of Hopkinsville. A seven-mile (11 km) section was left unconstructed from US 41 Alternate south to I-24 despite its approval in 1976 from the Parkway Authority for construction. This connection was completed and opened to the public on March 1, 2011.[3] The first 1.8 miles (2.9 km) of the extension to the US 68 bypass (exit 6) were completed and opened to traffic in September 2008. The construction was then completed to exit 5, with the final section to I-24 opened on March 1, 2011. The parkway's northern terminus was truncated south to the Western Kentucky Parkway in 2013 when Interstate 69 was extended along that section of the highway. The remaining section of the Parkway (from I-69 to I-24) was redesignated as Interstate 169 on May 7, 2017, thereby replacing the last section of the Pennyrile Parkway.[4] Despite the designation changes, it continues to be referred to as the Pennyrile Parkway by most in the area.
The next phase of the extension—now completed—encompassed the portion of the parkway between US 41 Alternate and I-24. As of May 2010, the Lover's Lane interchange (exit 5) opened to local traffic via US 68 ramp (exit 5). The final segment, from US 68 to I-24, opened on March 1, 2011.
It was one of nine highways that are part of Kentucky's parkway system. The section between the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway near Mortons Gap and the northern terminus in Henderson became part of I-69 with the passage of federal legislation on June 6, 2008. The length of the road carried the unsigned designation Kentucky Route 9004 (EB 9004).
The road was named after Edward T. Breathitt, a former Kentucky governor. Originally called the Pennyrile Parkway from its opening in October 1969 at a cost of $69.2 million, it was renamed for Breathitt in 2000.
The parkway passed through the cities of Madisonville, Sebree, Mortons Gap, Slaughters, and Earlington. It intersected with the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway near Madisonville.
- ^ "Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Division of Planning - Highway Information System Official Milepoint Route Log Extract". Archived from the original on April 30, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
- ^ https://www.kentuckyroads.com/pennyrile_parkway/ [bare URL]
- ^ Carlyle, Jeffrey. "Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway". KentuckyRoads.com.[self-published source]
- ^ "H. R. 244" (PDF). Retrieved June 20, 2018.