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100 years of US routes: 1926-2026
US route endpoint in
1927-present
When the seminal US routes were assigned in 1926, US 168 was among them, running from Mt. Vernon to Louisville KY. At the time, US 25 came into Mt. Vernon from the east via the road now called "Old US 25", then through downtown along Main Street, then north on Richmond Street. It is unclear whether US 168 originally came in from the west via Old Brodhead Road or via New Brodhead Rd/US 150... although this 1929 map suggests New Brodhead, and either way, the original terminus of US 168 would have been at Main and Richmond:
c. 1929, KY DoT
In 1934, US 150 was extended eastward through Louisville. From there it was extended along the former US 168 to Mount Vernon, eliminating that designation. It is unclear exactly when US 25 was changed to its current alignment east of town, but it was already shown that way on this 1937 map:
c. 1937, KY DoT
Where southbound US 25 (Richmond Street) intersects US 150, there were sign assemblies across the road, on both the left and right sides:
Elkins, Aug. 2000
Sanderson, Jul. 2007
Elkins, pre-2000
Elkins, Aug. 2000
US 150 begins to the right, and it is possible that US 168 did as well, depending when US 25's modern alignment was opened. This photo was looking east on US 150; the designation ends here:
Sanderson, Jul. 2007
Straight ahead is southbound US 25; left is northbound US 25; and right is KY 1249. Before US 150 was extended to Mt. Vernon, US 168 either ended at that junction, or else turned left on Richmond and ended after one more block, at Main. This last photo was looking the opposite direction (west on northbound US 25):
Sanderson, Jul. 2007
US 25 continues to the right on Richmond, while straight ahead is the east beginning of US 150 (and possibly the former beginning of US 168).
Research and/or image credits: H.B. Elkins; Dale Sanderson
Page originally created 2001;last updated May 26, 2025.
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