![Current map of one of the road improvement options for Highway 44 in Bullitt County, specifically from Bardstown Road to the Spencer County line. Many local residents voiced their opinions about the project, with both positives and negatives to it. “We’ve determined that we need at least four lanes of traffic [from Bardstown Road] to Bullitt East High School, and then past that, only two lanes of through traffic,” project manager James Maynard said in an interview with WLKY. “We need to find out from the public: Do you want roundabouts or do you want traditional widening of the center traffic to turn left?”](https://www.belivewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_3998.jpeg)
After several years of talks and opinions voiced, a much needed list of road upgrades in Mount Washington is now coming to life.
According to officials from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), improvements are officially on the way for KY 44 in Bullitt County, specifically from Bardstown Road to the Spencer County line.
In an interview with WLKY, project manager James Maynard said that they know for sure the roads will be widened. But the question around town is, how?
“We’ve determined that we need at least four lanes of traffic [from Bardstown Road] to Bullitt East High School, and then past that, only two lanes of through traffic,” Maynard said. “We need to find out from the public: Do you want roundabouts or do you want traditional widening of the center traffic to turn left?”
If the public prefers to implement roundabouts, six would be added from Bardstown Road to Kings Church Road, meaning KY 44 would have four lanes of Bardstown Road and the east side of Bullitt East. The road would then go down to two lanes, with a concrete median dividing them.
However, if traditional widening is preferred, then KY 44 would have four lanes in addition to a middle turning lane from Bardstown Road and the east side of Bullitt East. Then, it would go down to two lanes that are divided by a middle turning lane.
On Tuesday night, KYTC gave local residents the opportunity to voice their concerns.
“I would not be opposed to roundabouts,” Shepherdsville resident Christy Stepp said. “I think they’re new to us, sort of, in Kentucky and the city. But my experience has been positive with them, so I would be in favor of roundabouts.”
Possible concerns include potential accidents, in which other residents were worried about.
“I think there would probably be a few fender benders at first with roundabouts because of the getting-used-to-it effect,” Cathy Strange, who lives on KY 44, said. “I think once people are more accustomed to it and seeing them in general throughout the United States and other countries, with time it would be a safer option.”
With this project, Strange and Stepp both expressed that their top priorities are to ease traffic flow and increase safety.
The other question popping up for KYTC that residents’ feedback is necessary is how the Bardstown Road and KY 44 intersection should be structured.
“We’re also looking at a continuous intersection on Bardstown Road. That is where you turn left in advance of the intersection,” Maynard said. “That actually improves traffic operations because you give green time to through and left turning traffic, or we could just have two traditional turning lanes.”
From Kings Church Road to the Spencer County line, Maynard said that there will either be spot improvements to slightly widen the road or an option to shift the road entirely.
For citizens that were unable to attend the community meeting Tuesday night, KYTC would still like their opinions to be shared.
This survey can be taken until Jan. 12, and information on the project as a whole can be accessed here.
The project cost and timeline has not yet been determined, and Maynard said that construction will not begin until at least 2029.
