NEWPORT KY - Beech Street area
Mar. 4 2024
This photo shoot sprouted from a sad chapter in Newport history. The area around Beech Street is like an island completely surrounded by a curved exit ramp and major highways. I-471 was rammed through just southwest of here, taking out blocks and blocks of homes. It didn't have to be this way. The area just to the northeast was practically empty, and I-471 could have been built there, with the Ohio River bridge at a different angle. Instead, maximum harm was inflicted by routing the road through a built-up area. I-471 was built to avoid disrupting Highland Country Club, but the homes of thousands of working-class Newport residents were not safe. Fifty years later, it was my duty to make sure this was not forgotten. If we forget history, we're doomed to repeat it.
Southeast on Linden. Linden used to continue straight ahead to Linden on the other side of I-471. Second Street is on the left past the church, but it used to continue on the right.
Northeast on 2nd.
Northeast on 3rd. An online post said KY 8 once ran here and turned left onto Beech just ahead.
Looking down Beech. This is where KY 8 reportedly once ran.