Cut-in-the-Hill
Encyclopedia
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
. The hill is known for its large number of automobile accidents. In 2006 the Cut-in-the-Hill averaged over seven times more accidents when compared to similar roadways in Kentucky.
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. Accidents are usually attributed to a combination of speeding, curvy lanes, poor weather, longer stopping times for trucks traveling downhill, and traffic congestion.
The area earned the nickname of "Death Hill" shortly after Interstate 75 opened in 1962. By 1968 a total of 23 people died in crashes on the hill so a concrete wall was installed to separate northbound and southbound traffic. The wall helped reduce fatal crashes but accidents continued, and in 1977 the hill averaged 583 automobile accidents per year.
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. As a result, Governor
Martha Layne Collins
banned most northbound tractor-trailer traffic from the hill. 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, and in 1995 the truck ban was lifted.
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. To help reduce the number of accidents a flashing "Steep Grade" sign was installed, and a Kentucky State Police
trooper was assigned to patrol just the Cut-in-the-Hill. Additionally, eight radar speed sign
s were installed in 2007 to remind motorists to drive a safer speed.
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. Kentucky officials are reportedly working to raise more than $2 billion to replace the section of highway, but as of 2008 no construction is planned.
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
between Buttermilk Pike and the Brent Spence Bridge
Brent Spence Bridge
The Brent Spence Bridge is a double decker cantilever truss bridge that carries Interstates 71 and 75 across the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. The top deck carries southbound traffic while the bottom deck carries northbound traffic. It is arguably the most important...
near Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The hill is known for its large number of automobile accidents. In 2006 the Cut-in-the-Hill averaged over seven times more accidents when compared to similar roadways in Kentucky.
At the Cut-in-the-Hill the northbound road takes a sharp left turn into a steep grade down to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
—about 370 feet in four miles. Accidents are usually attributed to a combination of speeding, curvy lanes, poor weather, longer stopping times for trucks traveling downhill, and traffic congestion.
History
| Year | Wrecks at Cut-in-the-Hill |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 45 |
| 2004 | 72 |
| 2005 | 74 |
| 2006 | 80 |
The area earned the nickname of "Death Hill" shortly after Interstate 75 opened in 1962. By 1968 a total of 23 people died in crashes on the hill so a concrete wall was installed to separate northbound and southbound traffic. The wall helped reduce fatal crashes but accidents continued, and in 1977 the hill averaged 583 automobile accidents per year.
In 1986 a tractor-trailer lost control, leading to an accident that caused a Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
student to burn to death in his car. As a result, Governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
Martha Layne Collins
Martha Layne Collins
Martha Layne Collins is a politician from the US state of Kentucky. From 1983 to 1987 she was the 56th Governor of Kentucky, having served the previous four years as lieutenant governor. She was Kentucky's first and only female governor to date...
banned most northbound tractor-trailer traffic from the hill. 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, and in 1995 the truck ban was lifted.
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. To help reduce the number of accidents a flashing "Steep Grade" sign was installed, and a Kentucky State Police
Kentucky State Police
The Kentucky State Police is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The department was founded in 1948 and replaced the Kentucky Highway Patrol...
trooper was assigned to patrol just the Cut-in-the-Hill. Additionally, eight radar speed sign
Radar speed sign
A radar speed sign is an interactive sign, generally constructed of a series of LEDs,...
s were installed in 2007 to remind motorists to drive a safer speed.
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. Kentucky officials are reportedly working to raise more than $2 billion to replace the section of highway, but as of 2008 no construction is planned.