Efforts to grow Estill County fail because of bad roads

I don't care how many groups you organize to help Estill County grow and prosper, real growth in income and jobs WILL NOT happen until a community has the needed infrastructure.

The crooked and dangerous roads leading from Irvine to neighboring county seats is preventing our community from growing and we the people of Estill County should be VERY UPSET!

Growing communities aren't "doing anything" to encourage growth, IT JUST HAPPENS when you have the right tools in place. The tools are sewage lines, high speed internet, cell phone coverage and above all GOOD ROADS.

If Irvine had better roads to neighboring towns, we would have more shoppers from Lee, Owsley, Powell, and Jackson Counties shopping here in Estill County. More businesses would sprout up! And current businesses would expand and hire more people!

If the road from Irvine to Clay City isn't rebuilt in the next few years, our community will continue to slide backwards. Population will decline and businesses will shrink.

A group aimed at growing Estill County can have social networking, cookouts, potlucks, and fun but nothing will really happen until pressure is put on Frankfort to build new roads to neighboring towns.

Show me another county with 15,000 people within an hours drive to a metropolitan area over 400,000 where the county is losing people. I doubt you can show me such a community. Why isn't the population spilling over from Madison County? Some of it has to do with the image of this community.

Out of town industries don't have to locate here and they won't if we don't provide the infrastructure to compete in the global economy of the 21st century!

Turning lanes needed in front of Price-Less

The original plan was a new road built from Rice Street toward the Proctor Bypass to the south of the current Winchester Road. Local businessmen complained that their businesses would be replaced by out of town businesses! So the plan has been on hold.

If nothing else, how about a a turning lane from Estill Springs to the new bypass? Try making a left turn in front of Price Less during the heavily traveled times of the day!

I understand that local businessmen have a personal interest in certain decisions but should the safety and convenience of the entire community be compromised by selfishness? "What's in it for me" is often more important that what is good for the community!

Speed up the road from New Fox road to Clark County line!

I recently went from Irvine to Lexington via KY 89 North (Winchester Road). I am suprised that no work has started on the stretch of road from Cressy/New Fox Road to the Clark County line. There are some dangerous curves along this stretch. Some fine young people have been killed along the stretch of road near the Corinth Church.

In February of 1986,after the death of police chief Bob Walker, a police cruiser wrecked along this stretch of road near the Corinth church.

The Clark county side of KY 89 north has been improved especially the section north of the power plant at Trapp KY. It is time that the Estill County side gets the same improvements.

Red tape and paper work have slowed down the KY 89 improvements

We have heard for years about improvements on KY 89 near the high school and in front of Price-Less. Yet not one ounce of dirt has been moved? Why the foot dragging? Why the paper work? Other communities get new roads even in times of recessions! As we speak, KY 213 in downtown Stanton KY is getting a new lane.

We must put pressure on Frankfort to make sure we get our fair share of road money. Eliminate the dangerous curves. Build a shoulder on this road so people feel safe if they briefly lose control of the road and head rightwards.

Good News: 4 year road plan;improvements to KY 89

In the Wednesday edition of the Tribune (March 11, 2009)a front page article mentions the 4 year road plan for Estill County. A new road from Rice Street to Joseph Proctor was mentioned. Also a new exit for Dry Ridge and Dry Branch was included in the project. The Crowe curve in Clark County near Trapp KY would be replaced also. Things are looking up...even if we have to wait for 3 or 4 years. I dream of the day when a trip from Irvine to either Winchester or Clay City involves a nice straight highway with shoulders along the sides of the road. Maybe we can stop losing our best and brightest young people to senseless accidents.

Does the stimulus bill cover money for a new KY 89 and 82?

I wonder if Estill County will get any money for a new road from Irvine to Winchester and Clay City? And if not, will local politicians and civic leaders complain? Show me any road that is more important? Local people are dying and businesses are avoiding Estill County over this crooked and primitive road. Martin County is a poor county but they have 4 lane roads leading in every direction from Inez.

Why don't the 2 local newspapers complain about the poor roads from Irvine to neighboring towns! Messrs Edmonds and Jensen represent Estill County in Frankfort. Our elected leaders should consider Estill County part of their constituency. The section of road from Irvine to Hargett should be first priority. There is absolutely no excuse for this road not seeing construction in the next 5 years!!!

KY 213 from Stanton to Jeffersonville

The road from Stanton north to Jeffersonville has been rebuilt. Yet the road from Irvine to Clay city via Hargett has only seen the Salem Baptist Church curve straightened out. Which road has the most traffic? I am glad people in Powell County got a better road but it is high time that the Winchester and Spout Springs Roads were modern and safe! Estill County gets screwed when it comes to money from Frankfort. And until there is more outrage, the problem will continue. As the old saying goes, the wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease. I think people in Irvine need a better road to the parkway, Winchester and Mt. Sterling. At least start by rebuilding the road from Irvine to Hargett!!

When KY 89 or 82 become slick and treacherous

I feel sorry for people who have to drive KY 89 and 82 everyday to school or work. If it starts sleeting or snowing, you have to be very careful. You have NO room on the side of the road should you start skidding. Guardrails exist for only a portion of the 14 mile stretch. Doesn't it burn you up that the state DOT doesn't think this road is important enough to completely reconstruct! Yet other counties in the mountains of Eastern KY have good roads crisscrossing their communities! If people in Morgan, Martin, Floyd, Breathitt and Perry Counties deserve good roads, the same can be said for Estill County. We in Estill County need to do more complaining. Stop being complacent. Do something.

I would hate to take a trip from Irvine to Winchester, Clay City or Beattyville during winter weather! You are certainly risking your life.

Still no new road in front of the high school

A decade ago or more, we kept hearing about this new road from Joseph Proctor bypass north to the Estill County middle school. In 2009, nothing has been done. Not once ounce of dirt has been moved in this project. Why? What has happened? Why is it so important that many of the "mountain counties" get all of the transportation dollars while Estill County gets none? We need a local representative in Frankfort who will look out for our county!! Men like Rocky Adkins and Greg Stumbo will make sure their counties get the money for new roads. Why is it that Estill County isn't suppose to get new roads? Why don't Estill Countians complain more? We need to get off of our rear ends and make some noise!! Let the transportation department in Frankfort know we have had enough!! The wheel that makes the most noise gets the grease.

Poor visibility near the White Oak Road Junction

I wished the old mobile units that were used at the Estill County High School in the 1990s were moved. They are unsightly and limit visibility when you turn out of the White Oak Road onto the Winchester Road. Unsightly and dangerous. They need to be moved.

KY 89 in front of Priceless Foods

There was a plan to rebuild Main Street/Winchester Road from Rice Street north to the Joseph Proctor Bypass. This new road would be built behind the cluster of businesses near Priceless. Local business owners in that little strip complained that the new road would bypass and kill their businesses. Thus the road was stopped dead in its tracks. A few years later, no new road. Do these business owners think people are too lazy to get off of the new road and visit their businesses? Huh? Do these little business people think some out of town business might kill their business? A few local people concerned with "me and my" interests shouldn't hold up progress!!
The new road would bring in MORE traffic. Build a big sign and people on the new road would be able to see what you have to offer!

Small business growth in Estill County

Too many local people think some out of town/state firm will come into town employing hundreds of people. It isn't going to happen. The best way to create jobs in Estill County is to improve the INFRASTRUCTURE which improves the local business economy. Irvine and Estill County need more through traffic. The local economy is limited.If there isn't enough out of town folks coming in, the businesses will suffer and eventually fail. Many of our local businessmen are older and I don't see a younger crop of enterpreneurs interested in starting up new busineses.

trucks entering and exiting KY 89 at Dry Ridge Road

There is a sign on the Winchester Road warning motorists about incoming trucks at the Dry Ridge intersection. It is time for improved visibility at this site. The sharp curve limits visibility for motorists traveling from Dry Ridge to Winchester Road. Will someone have to die before the problem is fixed? Will the new park cost someone's life before something is done? Fix the problem NOW before someone dies.