US 460 Set to Open October 31, 2025 — A Major Milestone for Eastern Kentucky
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 12 has announced that the final portion of the US 460 project in Pike County will officially open to traffic on Friday, October 31, 2025 — marking a significant milestone in one of Eastern Kentucky’s largest and most transformative transportation projects.
Decades in the Making
Palmer Engineering is proud to have served as the prime engineering firm on this project since its inception in 1991, playing a key role in improving safety, mobility, and connectivity throughout the region.
This new route replaces a narrow, winding roadway with a modern highway featuring 12-foot lanes, full shoulders, and safer, higher-speed travel — significantly reducing travel times and improving overall traffic safety.
“Another challenge successfully completed—over 30 years in the making. From the initial feasibility design study in the early 1990s to the completion of the tallest bridge in Kentucky—the 325-foot Pond Creek Bridge—Palmer Engineering has consistently risen to meet every challenge. The new four-lane US 460 replaces the original two-lane highway constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, connecting US 23 near Yeager, Kentucky to the Virginia state line at Breaks Interstate Park. This modern corridor enhances safety, improves travel times, and supports economic growth throughout Eastern Kentucky.”
Palmer Engineering provided all surveying operations for the entire 18-mile corridor, including GPS photo control, project control, right-of-way and utility location, drainage and bridge surveys, and right-of-way staking. The project required coordination with more than 300 property owners, addressing complex challenges such as abandoned railroad rights-of-way, interstate deeds, mineral rights ownership, and overlapping property claims — all of which were successfully resolved through close collaboration and technical expertise.
Construction began in May 2002, with the first 8 miles opening in 2014, followed by another 3.5 miles in 2020. The final segment broke ground in early 2024, completing the 24th and final section of the corridor.
Interchanges have been constructed at US 23, Greasy Creek Road, KY 195 at Marrowbone, and KY 80 near Elkhorn City. The Kentucky section will ultimately tie into VA 80 in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is developing a connector to the Coalfields Expressway, approximately five miles into Virginia.
“The new U.S. 460 highway represents nearly three decades of hard work in Kentucky’s transportation industry. Once the Coalfields Expressway is complete, we’ll be only two hours from I-77 in Bluefield, WV — improving safety and driving economic growth across Appalachia,” said Kevin Damron, a Senior Project Manager at Palmer Engineering.
Engineering Highlights
The US 460 project highlights some of Kentucky’s most innovative highway engineering achievements — including 14 bridges along the corridor. Palmer Engineering designed 13 of those structures, among them the Pond Creek Bridge and Russell Fork Bridge.
Pond Creek Bridge
The Pond Creek Bridge, which stands 324 feet high, has the distinction of being Kentucky’s tallest state highway bridge. Constructing this structure required an innovative beam-launching method, using specialized equipment to set massive bridge beams across the valley. This remarkable feat of engineering can be seen in a time-lapse video below shared by KYTC District 12.
Russell Fork Bridge
The final Kentucky segment includes a twin bridge over the Russell Fork River, CSX railroad tracks, and Kentucky Route 80, spanning more than 220 feet above the valley floor. Details about this bridge’s unique design and construction challenges were featured in the March 2024 issue of Modern Steel Construction.
Driving Economic Growth
Beyond improving safety and mobility, the project also lays the foundation for future economic development. Five excess excavation areas created during construction will be transferred to the Pike County Fiscal Court for redevelopment.
These sites — ranging from 29 acres at Wolfpen (near the state line) to 264 acres at John Moore Branch — will be available for a variety of uses, including manufacturing, housing, technology, wholesale, and retail development.
By opening up new areas for investment, the US 460 project not only enhances transportation but also contributes to the long-term economic growth and vitality of Eastern Kentucky.
A Lasting Legacy
For more than three decades, Palmer Engineering has been honored to partner with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, contractors, and local stakeholders to make this vision a reality. The opening of US 460 represents a milestone achievement — one that will benefit travelers, communities, and businesses across the region for generations to come.
Learn more about this remarkable project in the video below.