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March 18, 2010

Adopt-a-Highway week begins Sunday

The Times-Tribune

Adopt-a-Highway — Special to The Times-Tribune

Volunteers will be out in force next week to spring clean Kentucky highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced that the Adopt-a-Highway Spring Clean Week will be held March 21-27.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

More than 1,100 groups participate in Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway program, which was established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,800 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said.

The Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and supports tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in the Bluegrass State.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to the community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking responsibility for an area roadway, you set an example in your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of highway litter. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers help save thousands of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that a clean environment is a shared responsibility.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep adopted areas reasonably litter-free. The cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at adopt-a-highway.ky.gov. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit adopt-a-highway.ky.gov. For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov .

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