Paris-Lexington Road: Integration of Intrinsic Qualities, Civics of Design, and Computer Technology

Integration of intrinsic landscape qualities, democratic public participation, and computer technology in a highway design process are described in this study of a road improvement project. Since 1967, there had been constant conflict over improvement of the historic Paris Pike between Lexington and Paris, Kentucky (U.S. 27 and 68). After 25 years, the concerned parties came together and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that moved the project out from under a court-ordered injunction and laid out the conditions for finding a mutually agreeable plan for improving the 19.3-km (12-mi) road corridor renamed the Paris-Lexington Road. Construction of the first 4.8 km (3 mi) of the corridor at the Paris end will begin after 1 year of work by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the 12-member Governor-appointed task force of MOA signers, and intensive design and engineering work carried out by the multidisciplinary design team working directly with the community in an extraordinary public process that included all the property owners in the corridor. The plan has the consensus support of the task force and the carefully and thoughtfully negotiated acceptance by the property owners. It reflects the flexibility of Green Book minimum criteria being applied to a very sensitive roadway corridor, the importance of the roadway fit and flow with the landscape, and the benefits of using computer technology to clarify communication with affected citizens. The new Paris-Lexington Road will be a scenic commercial and historic parkway that will be a treasure to all of Kentucky.