U.S. Route 231 in Kentucky

U.S. Route 231 (US 231) in Kentucky runs 86.465 miles (139.152 km) from the Tennessee state line near Adolphus to the William H. Natcher Bridge on the Ohio River (Indiana state line) near Rockport, Indiana. It crosses the state mainly in the west-central region, traversing Allen, Warren, Butler, Ohio, and Daviess Counties.

U.S. Route 231 marker

U.S. Route 231

US 231 in Kentucky highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by KYTC
Length114.717 mi[1] (184.619 km)
Major junctions
South end US 231 / US 31E at the Tennessee state line
Major intersections US 31E in Scottsville
I-65 at Bowling Green
US 31W in Bowling Green
US 68 / KY 80 in Bowling Green
KY 70 / KY 79 in Morgantown
I-165 (3 times)
Future I-569 / Western Kentucky Parkway in Beaver Dam
US 62 in Beaver Dam
US 60 in Owensboro
North end US 231 at the Indiana state line near Rockport
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountiesAllen, Warren, Butler, Ohio, Daviess
Highway system
  • Kentucky State Highway System
KY 230 KY 232

Route description

Running concurrently with U.S. Route 31E for its first 8.607 miles (13.852 km) in Kentucky, US 231/31E enters the state from Sumner County, Tennessee, and into Allen County. The two routes separate on the west side of Scottsville after the KY 100 junction. US 231 turns northwestward onto a four-lane highway on its way into Warren County, and into Bowling Green. Just before entering the city, US 231 crosses the southern terminus of KY 9007, a short connector providing access to I-65 and I-165. US 231 crosses I-65 in the Greenwood neighborhood of Bowling Green, US 31W and US 68 within city limits, and I-165 on the northwestern edge of the city.[2]

US 231 reaches Butler County to cross I-165 for a second time, and runs concurrently with KY 79 on the southern end of Morgantown. On the northern end of Morgantown, KY 70 joins in on the concurrency as US 231, KY 79, and KY 70 cross the Green River. Both state routes separate from US 231 in the Aberdeen area before crossing the I-165 for a third time before entering Ohio County. US 231 meets U.S. Route 62 in the Beaver Dam/Hartford area after crossing the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway on the south side of Beaver Dam.[3]

US 231 goes further north into Daviess County to join up with US 60 (Wendell H. Ford Expressway) to bypass Owensboro. US 60 splits from US 231 before leaving the state via the William H. Natcher Bridge going into Spencer County, Indiana.[4]

Alternate names

U.S. 231 has several alternate names throughout its course in Kentucky. They include:

  • Scottsville Road (Allen/Warren County line to US 231 Bus/KY 880)
  • Campbell Lane (Bowling Green, from US 231 Bus/KY 880 to US 68/80)
  • Vietnam Veterans Boulevard (US 68/KY80 to US 231 Bus)
  • Morgantown Road (Warren County, US 231 Bus/US 68 to Butler-Warren County line)
  • Bowling Green Road (Butler County south of Morgantown)
  • South Main Street (Morgantown)
  • G.L. Smith Street (Morgantown)
  • Beaver Dam Road (Aberdeen to Butler-Ohio County line)
  • New Hartford Road (Daviess County, from Ohio County line to US 60)

History

Kentucky Route 71

Kentucky Route 71 marker

Kentucky Route 71

LocationScottsville-Owensboro, Kentucky
Existed1929–1952

In Kentucky, US 231 was originally signed as Kentucky Route 71, one of many charter routes of Kentucky's statewide system of highways when it was established in 1929.[5] KY 71 originally ran from downtown Scottsville to downtown Owensboro. Prior to 1936, KY 71 followed the present-day KY 403 from Morgantown to Cromwell via Logansport and a ferry crossing.[6] In 1936, KY 71 was rerouted to Aberdeen in order to accommodate the alignment KY 70 and KY 105 (now KY 79) via another ferry crossing between Morgantown and Aberdeen.[7] A bridge over the Green River between the two cities opened around 1952, replacing the Morgantown-Aberdeen Ferry. In 1952, US 231 replaced the designation of KY 71 in its entirety as the U.S. route was extended from Montgomery, Alabama into Kentucky and Indiana via Huntsville, Alabama and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[8][9]

Modern-day realignments (1990-present)

In August 1999, US 231 in Bowling Green was rerouted onto KY 880 (Campbell Lane) from the Scottsville Road intersection to the Morgantown Road intersection on the northwest side of town. The former alignment of US 231 into downtown Bowling Green was redesignated as U.S. 231 Business.

In 2002, US 231 in Daviess County was rerouted from downtown Owensboro onto the then-new William H. Natcher Bridge north of Maceo. It previously followed the current KY 2155 and KY 2262 onto the Owensboro Bridge in downtown Owensboro into Spencer County until the opening of the Natcher Bridge.[10][11]

Widening of Morgantown's South Main Street

The stretch of US 231 from the Natcher Parkway (now I-165) interchange to Bell Street in Morgantown was widened to include a center lane for left-turning in 2013–2014.[12][13][14]

Scottsville Road speed limit increase

In late May 2017, the KYTC raised the speed limit of US 231 from near Scottsville to the near the Drakes Creek bridge south of Bowling Green from the original 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).[15] This makes this stretch of US 231 the second section of a four-lane divided highway with unlimited access in the region with a 65 mph speed limit, the first being US 68/KY 80 from I-24 in Trigg County to the Natcher Parkway Exit 7 (now I-165 Exit 5) interchange at Bowling Green.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Sumner0.0000.000

US 231 south / US 31E south Westmoreland, Gallatin, Nashville
Continuation into Tennessee
AllenAdolphus2.1293.426


KY 482 west (Andrew Jackson Highway) to KY 3521 south
Eastern terminus of KY 482
Petroleum3.7376.014

KY 1147 south to KY 3500
Northern terminus of KY-1147
Scottsville7.41511.933 KY 100 Franklin, Scottsville Business District
8.60713.852

US 31E north / KY 980 east Glasgow, Downtown Scottsville
Western terminus of KY 980; End concurrency with US 31E
8.83614.220
KY 3241 north (Old Bowling Green Road)
Southern terminus of KY-3241
14.11422.714 KY 1332 Halifax
Allen Springs17.13027.568
KY 240 west (Woodburn-Allen Springs Road)
Eastern terminus of KY 240
WarrenAlvaton20.47132.945
KY 961 east (New Cut Road)
Western terminus of KY 961
Bowling Green23.80838.315


KY 9007 north to I-65 / I-165 Bowling Green, Owensboro
Southern terminus of KY 9007; at-grade intersection
25.06140.332
KY 622 south Plano
Northern terminus of KY-622
26.02841.888
KY 2158 north (Cumberland Trace Road)
Southern terminus of KY 2158
26.209–
26.253
42.179–
42.250

I-65 to I-165 Nashville, Louisville
I-65 Exit 22
26.63342.862
KY 884 south (Three Springs Road)
Northern terminus of KY 884
27.63144.468


US 231 Bus. north (Scottsville Road) / KY 880 east (Lovers Lane)
US 231 turns left onto Campbell Lane
30.21848.631
US 31W (Nashville Road) to I-165 Western Kentucky University, Kentucky State Police, Woodburn, Franklin
31.05849.983

US 68 (Russellville Road) / KY 80 / US 68 Bus. to I-165 Russellville, Western Kentucky Univ.
Begin concurrency with US 68; Western terminus of US 68 Business
32.5752.42




US 68 east (Veterans Memorial Boulevard) / US 231 Bus. south (Morgantown Road) to I-65 north
Western terminus of US 231 Business; US 231 turns left onto Morgantown Road
33.500–
33.556
53.913–
54.003

I-165 to I-65 Nashville, Scottsville, Owensboro
I-165 Exit 7
34.65355.769

KY 3191 north to KY 2665
Southern terminus of KY 3191
35.45057.051
KY 2632 west
Western terminus of KY-2632
Hadley40.30064.857
KY 626 west (Jackson Bridge Road) Quality
Begin concurrency with KY 626
41.37366.583
KY 626 east
End concurrency with KY 626
ButlerNeedmore46.03874.091
KY 1083 south Sugar Grove
Northern terminus of KY 1083
47.82976.973
KY 1435 south Bowling Green
Northern terminus of KY-1435
50.07180.581
KY 403 north (Woodbury Loop) Woodbury
Southern terminus of KY 403
52.8184.99
KY 79 south Russellville
Begin concurrency with KY 79
Morgantown53.2585.70

KY 1468 north (Gardner Lane) to KY 70
Southern terminus of KY 1468
53.53586.156
I-165 south Bowling Green
Exit 26 on I-165 southbound, and ramps to I-165 south
53.54986.179




I-165 north / US 231 Truck north / KY 79 Truck north Owensboro
Exit 28 on I-165 northbound, and ramps to I-165 north, southern terminus of US 231 Truck/KY 79 Truck
55.48689.296
KY 403 south Woodbury
Begin concurrency with KY 403
55.55489.405
KY 2161 north (North Main Street)
Southern terminus of KY 2161
55.83289.853 KY 2162 (Old Logansport Road)
56.12490.323






KY 70 west (Veterans Way) / KY 403 north / US 231 Truck south / KY 79 Truck south to I-165 – Industrial District, Charles Black City Park, Rochester
End concurrency with KY 403; begin concurrency with KY 70; northern terminus of US 231 Truck/KY 79 Truck
56.868–
57.148
91.520–
91.971
Bridge over Green River
Aberdeen57.93793.241
KY 79 north (Caneyville Road) Caneyville
End concurrency with KY 79
58.18493.638
KY 1328 east (Aberdeen-Jetson Road)
Western terminus of KY-1328
58.89594.782
KY 70 east (Brownsville Road) Roundhill, Brownsville, Mammoth Cave National Park
End concurrency with KY 70
61.34798.728
KY 1118 north (Gilstrap Road)
Southern terminus of KY 1118
62.39–
62.446
100.41–
100.497
I-165 Owensboro, Bowling GreenI-165 Exit 33
OhioCromwell65.267105.037
KY 505 north (Baizetown Road)
Southern terminus of KY 505
65.654105.660
KY 403 south
Northern terminus of KY 403; dead end
69.227111.410
KY 269 south – Reed's Ferry, Logansport
Northern terminus of KY 269
Beaver Dam70.167112.923

Western Kentucky Parkway east to I-165 Owensboro, Elizabethtown
Exit 75 on WK Parkway eastbound, and ramps to WK Parkway east
70.188112.957
Western Kentucky Parkway west Paducah
Exit 75 on WK Parkway westbound, and ramps to WK Parkway west
70.315113.161
KY 2718 north (Applehouse Road)
Southern terminus of KY 2718
72.849117.239
KY 369 south Rochester, Rochester Ferry
Northern terminus of KY 369
73.456118.216
US 62 west (First Street) Central City, McHenry, Rockport
Begin concurrency with US 62
73.85118.85
KY 273 west (Goshen Road)
Eastern terminus of KY 273
74.315119.598
US 62 east (Louisville Road) Rosine, Leitchfield
End concurrency with US 62
Hartford76.516123.141

KY 69 north to I-165 Fordsville
Begin concurrency with KY 69
77.533124.777

KY 69 south / KY 1543 south
Northern terminus of KY 1543; end concurrency with KY-69
79.126127.341
KY 136 west Livermore, Calhoun
Eastern terminus of KY 136
79.949128.665
KY 1737 north
Southern terminus of KY 1737
84.544136.060
KY 1414 east (Taffy Road)
Western terminus of KY 1414
Pleasant Ridge87.946141.535
KY 2115 north
Southern terminus of KY-2115
DaviessPleasant Ridge89.874144.638
KY 764 east
Eastern terminus of KY 764
90.041144.907
KY 140 west
Eastern terminus of KY-140
93.536150.532
KY 142 north Philpot
Southern terminus of KY 142
97.221156.462
KY 298 north (Old Hartford Road)
Southern end of KY 298 concurrency
97.463156.851
KY 298 south
Northern end of KY 298 concurrency
Owensboro99.057159.417
KY 3143 east
Western terminus of KY 3143
99.565160.234
KY 2117 north – Owensboro Community College
Southern terminus of KY 2117
99.872160.728

US 60 west (Wendell H. Ford Expressway) to Audubon Parkway
Begin concurrency with US 60; Exit 16 of US 60/Wendell Ford Expressway
100.908162.396
I-165 south Hartford, Beaver Dam, Bowling Green, Nashville
US 60 Exit 17; northern terminus of I-165, exits 70A-B northbound; trumpet interchange.
102.098164.311 KY 54 (Leitchfield Road) Owensboro, LeitchfieldUS 60/231 Exit 18
103.056165.853
KY 603 north
US 60/231 Exit 19; southern terminus of KY 603
105.372169.580 KY 144 – Downtown OwensboroUS 60/231 Exit 21
107.626173.207Hawes BoulevardEnd of Expressway; US 60 and US 231 continues
111.120178.830
US 60 east Lewisport, Hawesville
End concurrency with US 60
113.816–
114.710
183.169–
184.608
William H. Natcher Bridge over the Ohio River and Indiana State Road 66
SpencerRockport114.717184.619
US 231 north Rockport, Jasper, Lafayette, Chicago
Continuation into Indiana
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. Commonwealth of Kentucky. "Official DMI Route Log". Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  2. DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. pp. 81 and 64.
  3. DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. pp. 63.
  4. DeLorme (2010). Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer (Map) (4th ed.). Yarmouth, ME: DeLorme. pp. 32 & 45-46.
  5. Kentucky Department of State Highways (September 15, 1939). Road Map of Kentucky (PDF) (Map). c. 1:760,320. Frankfort: Kentucky Department of State Highways.
  6. Gulf Refining Company (1935). "Road map of Kentucky and Tennessee" (Map). 1935 Official Road Map of Kentucky and Tennessee. 1:1400000. Chicago: Rand McNally & Company. § C6.
  7. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (1937). Butler County Highway Map (PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. Kentucky Department of Highways (1957). Kentucky Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). c. 1:760,320. Frankfort: Kentucky Department of Highways.
  9. "H.B.'s Fun Facts About Kentucky Highways". Archived from the original August 27, 2002. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (2001). Kentucky Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
  11. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (2003). Kentucky Official Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Frankfort: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
  12. Jobe, Jeff (July 28, 1999). "Patton's word is good: State approves its portion of $12M US 231 project". Butler County Banner-Republican., page 1.
  13. Terry, Sam (February 2, 2013). "Highway 231 Dream Realized". Butler County Banner-Republican., pages 1 and 16.
  14. Terry, Sam (February 2, 2013). "Widening efforts begun on US 231 in Butler County". Butler County Banner-Republican., page 1.
  15. French, Jackson (May 23, 2017). “State increases speed limit to 65 mph on U.S. 231.” Bowling Green Daily News, May 23, 2017, pages 1A and 6A. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
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