Tuesday, January 29, 2013 4:59 pm

il.lawson@ky.gov

Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet

502.564.8110, ext 168

2013 Kentucky Official Highway Map now available

Celebrates state’s unique features with ‘Only One Kentucky’ focus

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2013) – The 2013 Kentucky Official Highway Map is now available across the Commonwealth at rest areas, welcome centers, local convention and tourism offices and all Kentucky State Parks.

As always, the new map contains a wealth of information for motorists. At the same time, its “Only One Kentucky” theme highlights the beauty, natural attractions and features unique to Kentucky:

·         The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which explores the rich tradition and heritage of “America’s Official Native Spirit.”

·         Eastern Kentucky’s Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, which takes motorists to one of the nation’s special natural areas, offering stone arches, caves, cliffs, ravines and waterfalls.

·         The Great River Road in Western Kentucky, which highlights the Mississippi River’s pathway of history carrying people, cultures, ideas, art and music along its route.

·         The Wilderness Road Heritage Highway, which follows the steps of Daniel Boone and was crucial to settlement of the West. The trail leads motorists to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, renowned country music venue Renfro Valley and Berea, Kentucky’s crafts capital.

·         Woodlands Trace, which meanders along a ridge of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. It is a beautiful drive in rolling terrain with plenty of opportunities to pull off and explore on your own or at developed interpretive facilities.

·         The Belle of Louisville, America’s last true Mississippi River steamboat still in operation, is also featured on the map along with Lexington’s world famous Kentucky Horse Park.

·         The Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway, which explores the history and culture in six communities in the region where Abraham Lincoln was born.

“The Official Kentucky Highway Map is certainly a great aid for planning a trip and finding your way, but it’s also much more,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “Our highway map is part of our effort to make a good first impression on the many thousands of people who will visit and travel our Commonwealth in 2013.”

The highway map, published annually by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is packed with information for the traveling public. The 2013 map reflects many system improvements, such as KY 313 in Hardin and Meade counties; a widened, four-lane U.S. 27 in Garrard County, and the new KY 873 in Clay County, which now accesses the Hal Rogers Parkway from U.S. 421.  U.S. sanctioned bike routes are listed on the map along with symbols to indicate limited access parkways and divided highways.

Fifteen inset maps detail Lexington, downtown Lexington, the Louisville area, downtown Louisville, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Paducah, Elizabethtown-Radcliff, Northern Kentucky, Covington-Newport, downtown Frankfort, Richmond-Berea and Ashland.

The cover of the map features horses and riders cantering along a lake shore of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Western Kentucky. The back of the map highlights more “Only in Kentucky” features, along with information about Kentucky traffic laws, sharing the road with motorcycles and seat belt safety.

A personal message from Gov. Beshear tells travelers about the improvements that will come about in the Louisville area as a result of the Ohio River Bridges Project. The project, nearing the start of construction, includes new crossings in downtown Louisville and eastern Jefferson County, plus a drastically improved Kennedy Interchange, where Interstates 64, 65 and 71 meet in Louisville.

“The cabinet takes pride in the quality of the Official Kentucky Highway Map,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “We believe it is an invaluable resource for all motorists but especially for visitors.

“Kentucky has some of the most picturesque scenery in America and it can be found along rural roads and modern highways just about anywhere you travel,” Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow said. “The highway map is an excellent way to let travelers know about the special places to visit in Kentucky and how to find them.”

Multiple legends identify every type of street and highway, including bicycle routes and scenic byways. They also pinpoint Kentucky State Parks and Resort Parks, colleges and universities, airports and river ports, hospitals, welcome centers and rest areas and Kentucky State Police posts.

To view or download an electronic version of the Official State Highway Map, county maps or city maps, visit www.transportation.ky.gov/maps/pages/