Pikeville Cut-Through
The Pikeville Cut-Through is a
The Pikeville Cut-Through is 1,300 feet (400 m) wide, 3,700 feet (1.1 km) long, and 523 feet (159 m) deep.[1] The project was completed in 1987 following 14 years of work at a cost of $77.6 million ($208 million in 2023 dollars[3]).[4]
Purpose
The project was initially envisioned by Pikeville native Dr. William Hambley in 1960.[5] He wanted to relocate the railbed because he wanted to eliminate the dust that came from the coal hauling trains that passed through the city daily. In 1963, Pikeville received a $38,000 federal grant for a railroad relocation feasibility study and was named a Model City by the recently formed Model Cities Agency, generating even more funding. By 1965, his plan had further developed to accommodate Corridor B of the Appalachian Development Highway System, assuring the construction of the Pikeville Cut-Through.[6]
It was also decided to relocate the
Construction
The project was constructed in four phases by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between November 26, 1973, and October 2, 1987.[6]
Phase I of construction began on November 26, 1973. By the end of Phase I, nearly 13,000,000 cubic yards (9,900,000 m3) of rock were blasted from Peach Orchard Mountain to create a channel for the road, railroad, and river. The cost of Phase I at completion was $17,250,000.[6]
Phase II of construction began on March 4, 1980. During this phase the coal tipples and
Phase III and IV of the construction began on March 15, 1983. The final stages consisted of: the construction of the downtown interchanges and flood walls, another new bridge, and the construction of Hambley Boulevard atop the former railbed – a lasting tribute to William Hambley. These two phases created an additional 150 acres (0.61 km2) of downtown property at a cost of $19,700,000.[6]
The project was dedicated on October 2, 1987.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Maddox, Connie. The Pikeville Cut-Through Project (brochure). Pikeville-Pike County Tourism. Retrieved on 2010-06-17
- ^ Flow Diversion-Pikeville Cut-Through University of Kentucky. Retrieved on 2010-11-22.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ISBN 1-4401-3421-9. Retrieved on 2010-06-17
- ^ Pikeville "Cut-Thru Project" Archived September 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Kentucky Tourism. Retrieved on 2010-06-17
- ^ a b c d e f g The Pikeville Cut-Through Project Pike County, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 2010-06-17 Archived May 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine