Interstate 75 in Kentucky
Interstate 75 (I-75) runs from near Williamsburg to Covington by way of Lexington in the U.S. 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 corridor for the entire length of Kentucky.
![]() I-75 highlighted in red | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by KYTC | ||||
Length | 191.78 mi[1] (308.64 km) | |||
Existed | 1960s[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
South end | ![]() | |||
North end | ![]() ![]() | |||
Location | ||||
Counties | Whitley, Laurel, Rockcastle, Madison, Fayette, Scott, Grant, Boone, Kenton | |||
Highway system | ||||
|
Route description
Interstate 75 runs roughly parallel to U.S. Route 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 Interstate 64 along the north and east sides of Lexington, before leaving the Lexington area northerly and bypassing Georgetown en route to Cincinnati, Ohio. South of Florence, the route becomes concurrent with Interstate 71, and the two routes remain concurrent through to Cincinnati. On the north side of Florence, Interstate 75 intersects with the only auxiliary route it has in the state, Interstate 275, a beltway bypass of the greater Cincinnati area. The highway then enters Covington, and crosses the Ohio River via the Brent Spence Bridge into Cincinnati and the state of 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 4 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 Interstate 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 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.[11] To help reduce the number of accidents a flashing "Steep Grade" sign was installed,[11] 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.[12]
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 no construction is planned.[7]
Exit list
County | Location | mi[lower-alpha 1] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitley | | 0.000 | 0.000 | ![]() | Continuation into Tennessee | |||
Williamsburg | 10.548 | 16.975 | 11 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
15.456 | 24.874 | 15 | ![]() | |||||
Corbin | 24.670 | 39.703 | 25 | ![]() | ||||
Laurel | North Corbin | 28.852 | 46.433 | 29 | ![]() ![]() | |||
London | 38.187 | 61.456 | 38 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
40.708 | 65.513 | 41 | ![]() | |||||
East Bernstadt | 49.132 | 79.070 | 49 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Rockcastle | Mount Vernon | 58.966 | 94.897 | 59 | ![]() ![]() | |||
62.013 | 99.800 | 62 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
Madison | Berea | 75.516 | 121.531 | 76 | ![]() ![]() | |||
77.468 | 124.673 | 77 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
Richmond | 82.832 | 133.305 | 83 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
87.150 | 140.254 | 87 | ![]() | |||||
89.833 | 144.572 | 90 | ![]() ![]() | 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 | ![]() | |||||
97.038 | 156.168 | 97 | ![]() ![]() | 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 | ![]() ![]() | North end of US 25 / US 421 overlap | ||
103.890 | 167.195 | 104 | ![]() | |||||
108.247 | 174.207 | 108 | ![]() | KY 1425 not signed | ||||
109.677 | 176.508 | 110 | ![]() | |||||
110.829 | 178.362 | 111 | ![]() | South end of I-64 overlap; I-64 exit 81 | ||||
112.834 | 181.589 | 113 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
115.226 | 185.438 | 115 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
117.665 | 189.363 | 118 | ![]() | North end of I-64 overlap; I-64 exit 75 | ||||
119.873 | 192.917 | 120 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
Scott | Georgetown | 124.868 | 200.956 | 125 | ![]() | Northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||
125.528 | 202.018 | 126 | ![]() | |||||
126.764 | 204.007 | 127 | ![]() | Opened November 1, 2016;[22] provides access for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky | ||||
129.199 | 207.926 | 129 | ![]() ![]() | |||||
Sadieville | 136.468 | 219.624 | 136 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Grant | Corinth | 144.443 | 232.458 | 144 | ![]() | |||
Williamstown | 154.175 | 248.121 | 154 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
155.772 | 250.691 | 156 | ![]() | |||||
Dry Ridge | 158.544 | 255.152 | 159 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Crittenden | 165.901 | 266.992 | 166 | ![]() | ||||
Kenton |
No major junctions | |||||||
Boone | Walton | 171.378 | 275.806 | 171 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
173.532 | 279.273 | 173 | ![]() | South end of I-71 overlap; I-71 exit 77 | ||||
Union | 175.392 | 282.266 | 175 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
178.019 | 286.494 | 178 | ![]() | |||||
Florence | 180.45 | 290.41 | 180 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
180.464 | 290.429 | 180A | Mall Road | No northbound exit; access to Florence Mall | ||||
181.178 | 291.578 | 181 | ![]() | |||||
182.378 | 293.509 | 182 | ![]() ![]() | Southbound access via right-in/right-out with Thoroughbred Boulevard | ||||
Kenton | Erlanger | 183.685 | 295.612 | 184 | ![]() | Signed as 184B (west) and 184A (east) southbound | ||
184.708 | 297.259 | 185 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | I-275 exit 84 | ||||
Fort Mitchell | 186.274 | 299.779 | 186 | ![]() | ||||
187.675 | 302.034 | 188 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
Fort Wright | 188.585 | 303.498 | 189 | ![]() | ||||
Covington | 190 | Jefferson Avenue, Euclid Avenue | Exit removed ca. 1994 during reconstruction of freeway[4] | |||||
190.453 | 306.504 | 191 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
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 | |||||
![]() ![]() | Continuation into Ohio | |||||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
|
Notes
References
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 75 in Kentucky. |
- "FHWA Route Log". Fhwa.dot.gov. October 31, 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- Interstate 50th Anniversary (KTC) Archived January 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Department of Planning (May 2018). "State Primary Road System". Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Jim Calhoun (March 20, 1994). "End near for Death Hill?". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. B1, B4. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- Smith, Steve; et al. (2007). "Around Town". Cincinnati USA City Guide. Cincinnati Magazine. p. 79. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- "Travel Restrictions Lifted, But Officials Urge Caution". WLWT. January 27, 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Saladin, Luke E. (January 6, 2007). "Is Cut-in-the-Hill unsafe?". Cincinnati Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- "Aggressive Driving Crackdown Starts". kypost.com. October 7, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Eigelbach, Kevin (January 31, 2007). "Is I-75 Cut plan making the grade?". Kentucky Post. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Saladin, Luke E. (January 11, 2007). "Why 'Cut' warning might work". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Rutledge, Mike (January 10, 2007). "'Cut-in-hill' wrecks pile up: 272 crashes in '06; warning will flash". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Kettler, Shannon (September 17, 2007). "New Radar Speed Signs On Display On I-75". kypost.com. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Whitley County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Laurel County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Rockcastle County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Madison County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Fayette County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Scott County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Grant County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Kenton County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Division of Planning (n.d.). "Official Milepoint Route Log Extract (Boone County)". Highway Information System. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- "I-75 Interchange Project begins in Scott County, state officials announce". The News-Graphic. news-graphic.com. March 27, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
![]() | ||
---|---|---|
Previous state: Tennessee |
Kentucky | Next state: Ohio |