Welcome to the Roadscapes Wednesday segment! Each week here on Geek Alabama, Roadscapes Wednesday will feature roads and infrastructure related topics. Geek Alabama Editor / Publisher Nathan Young is often called the “road geek” for a good reason, Nathan loves roads and loves talking about roads!
If you’ve ever driven between Louisville and Nashville, you’ve probably noticed something strange — U.S. 31 splits in two. One route heads west, the other east… and somehow, both claim to be the same highway.
This is the story of how that happened. From Kentucky’s early turnpikes and the rise of the Dixie Highway to the rivalry between Bardstown and Bowling Green, 31W and 31E became two paths that neither state wanted to give up. Along the way, we’ll visit the stage roads, Fort Knox, Mammoth Cave country, and even Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace — which drew travelers long before the interstates arrived.
Join us as we uncover why the split between 31W and 31E still exists, and why it may be the most fascinating highway divide in America.
