2003 Environmental Excellence Awards

Paris Pike (US 27/68 Paris Lexington Road)

The Paris Lexington Road (US 68) project entailed the innovative redesign of a 12-mile stretch of highway between the City of Lexington and the rural community of Paris, Kentucky. The road runs through the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass Region, renowned for its scenic beauty and historic farms. Increased traffic volume and safety concerns drove the need to rebuild the existing two-lane road as a four-lane divided highway. In response to public opposition to the project, a different approach to highway design was initiated, which sought to look at the landscape first and then determine how best to make the road fit the landscape. The natural landscape patterns found within the corridor served as a framework for addressing the cultural, historical, scenic, natural, archaeological and recreational resources. Public acceptance was gained through citizen meetings, property owner workshops, and monthly newsletters which encouraged community involvement. Fitting the road to the land required much more than dodging sensitive areas and resources, it required community-based planning and context sensitive highway design to weave the alignment through the landscape and produce a road that is attractive, visually interesting, and safe to drive.