A Proposal to Perform Phase I Archaeological Survey for Widening of KY 922 (Newtown Pike), Fayette County, Kentucky

The proposed project involves archaeological survey work along both sides of KY 922 between the Interstate 75 interchange and the junction with Ironworks Pike. Based on the available map information that has been supplied by the KYTC staff, this proposed new segment is approximately 3.5 km in length. The widening will affect an area about 50 feet (15 meters) wide along the east edge of the current KY 922 right-of-way and about 100 feet (30 meters) wide along the western edge of the existing ROW. Small segments along both the eastern and western edges will be widened more than the general 50 and 100 feet. The map data and these calculated dimensions of the affected area are the basis for construction of the time and cost estimate presented below. The entire project area covers an area of about 16.9 hectares, distributed linearly along both sides of KY 922. In this portion of the Inner Bluegrass Region, there is generally moderate to high potential for archaeological sites, especially prehistoric sites. In addition part of the area has been used by the University of Kentucky as an experimental farm for the last 50 years, and historic sites may also be present in the affected area. Most of the alignment passes through current and former agricultural land, but some of this ground has been disturbed by recent commercial construction. The project area is almost entirely in upland settings, so only minimal deep testing of alluvial/depositional environments will be necessary. Based on available map data and a recent visual inspection, about 85 percent of the area affected by the project is in pasture that will require shovel testing. Only about 10 percent is currently in crops that might be inspected through pedestrian reconnaissance. The remaining five percent is disturbed or in residential yards that will not be shovel tested.