Kentucky Route 15 begins at a junction of US 119/Corridor F & Business KY 15 in Whitesburg, and terminates in Winchester at US 60. It is a major route, connecting the coalfields of the Cumberland Plateau with Lexington and other cities in the Bluegrass region. The segment from Whitesburg to KY 15 at Campton, which in turn connects to the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway near the town, is also the primary part of Corridor I of the Appalachian Development Highway System.

Currently, KY 15 is being relocated onto a new four-lane divided alignment in phases. Construction on section 17 of the relocation project is from KY 205 at Vancleve to Fivemile; construction began on January 6, 2005 at a cost of $36.4 million and is 100% complete. Work is also progressing on section 16 from Fivemile to Wolverine; construction began on November 2, 2006 with a projected cost of $4.7 million and is approximately 95% complete. There are additional plans to reconstruct the segment from Jackson south to Hazard on new alignment beginning in 2008.

The current construction is progressing from Vancleve to Jackson. Local reports suggest that the roadway will be opening for traffic flow by the end of 2011. Construction of the section between Jackson and Haddix, KY has not started. The current budget crisis and lowered revenues for state and federal construction projects may delay groundbreaking on that section for years. (Updated August 2011)

Working on a cut near Vancleve.

Driving steel for a bridge across Frozen Creek.

Looking north across Frozen Creek and KY 1812.

Looking south on KY 15 near the northern end of construction on section 17 at KY 205.