- Cut-in-the-Hill
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Cut-in-the-Hill is a stretch of I-75 highway located in Covington, Kentucky between Buttermilk Pike and the Brent Spence Bridge near Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] The hill is known for its large number of automobile accidents.[2][3] In 2006 the Cut-in-the-Hill averaged over seven times more accidents when compared to similar roadways in Kentucky.[2]
At the Cut-in-the-Hill the northbound road takes a sharp left turn into a steep grade down to the Ohio River—about 370 feet in four miles.[4] Accidents are usually attributed to a combination of speeding, curvy lanes, poor weather, longer stopping times for trucks traveling downhill, and traffic congestion.[2]
History
Year Wrecks at Cut-in-the-Hill[2] 2003 45 2004 72 2005 74 2006 80 The area earned the nickname of "Death Hill"[4][5] shortly after Interstate 75 opened in 1962.[4] By 1968 a total of 23 people died in crashes on the hill[4] so a concrete wall was installed to separate northbound and southbound traffic.[4] The wall helped reduce fatal crashes but accidents continued, and in 1977 the hill averaged 583 automobile accidents per year.[4]
In 1986 a tractor-trailer lost control, leading to an accident that caused a Northern Kentucky University student to burn to death in his car.[4] As a result, Governor Martha Layne Collins banned most northbound tractor-trailer traffic from the hill.[4] From 1989 until 1994 $50-million in reconstruction was spent to straighten the hill's S-curve and add a fourth lane for southbound traffic,[2] and in 1995 the truck ban was lifted.[2]
In 2006 the hill and the Brent Spence Bridge saw 151 crashes in the northbound lane and 121 crashes in the southbound lane, totaling 272 in all.[6] To help reduce the number of accidents a flashing "Steep Grade" sign was installed,[6] and a Kentucky State Police trooper was assigned to patrol just the Cut-in-the-Hill.[2] Additionally, eight radar speed signs were installed in 2007 to remind motorists to drive a safer speed.[7]
The Cut-in-the-Hill was originally designed to carry up to 80,000 vehicles per day, but in 2006 it carried 155,000 daily.[2] Kentucky officials are reportedly working to raise more than $2 billion to replace the section of highway,[2] but as of 2008 no construction is planned.[2]
References
- ^ "Travel Restrictions Lifted, But Officials Urge Caution". WLWT. January 27, 2009. http://www.wlwt.com/news/18576589/detail.html. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Saladin, Luke E. (1/6/07). "Is Cut-in-the-Hill unsafe?". Cincinnati Post. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12119.msg167021.html#msg167021. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ "Aggressive Driving Crackdown Starts". kypost.com. 10/07/2008. http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Aggressive-Driving-Crackdown-Starts/EV3GUB_vVU-_dZyv-6lwdg.cspx. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Eigelbach, Kevin (2007-01-31). "Is I-75 Cut plan making the grade?". Kentucky Post. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12119.msg167027.html#msg167027. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ Saladin, Luke E. (1/11/07). "Why 'Cut' warning might work". Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12119.msg167026.html#msg167026. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ a b Rutledge, Mike (1/10/07). "'Cut-in-hill' wrecks pile up: 272 crashes in '06; warning will flash". Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12119.msg167024.html#msg167024. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ Kettler, Shannon (2007-09-17). "New Radar Speed Signs On Display On I-75". kypost.com. http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/New-Radar-Speed-Signs-On-Display-On-I-75/No0tdT9KZUuuPiZ_K3Ifbw.cspx. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
External links
- Live web cam at Cut-in-the-Hill
- Additional info and a picture of Cut-in-the-Hill before it was reconstructed in the 1990s
Coordinates: 39°4′00″N 84°31′14″W / 39.0666667°N 84.52056°W
Categories:- Interstate 75
- Hills of the United States
- Kenton County, Kentucky
- Transportation in Cincinnati, Ohio
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