In 1939, a materials research lab at the University of Kentucky (UK) published a paper in ASTM on the selection of aggregates for concrete pavement.

Two years later, the Kentucky Highway Department took an interest in the group and established a Division of Research with the mission of investigating materials for pavement mixtures.

Over the ensuing 40 years, the group expanded from its humble beginnings as a materials research lab, broadening its research focus to include various transportation-related topics.

The group was officially designated as the Kentucky Transportation Research Program in 1981, when the Kentucky Department of Transportation transferred the Division of Research to UK’s College of Engineering.

For more than 40 years, KTC has continued to function as the research arm of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, while also providing services to a number of federal, state, local, and private clients. 

In 1995, KTC and UK’s Department of Civil Engineering moved into the new Civil Engineering building, which was dedicated the Oliver H. Raymond building in October 1998.

Today, KTC continues to grow, benefitting from the resources it shares with the Department of Civil Engineering.

Doug Kreis, KTC’s current director, follows in the footsteps of the Center’s previous directors: Robert Deen, Calvin Grayson, Paul Toussaint, and Joe Crabtree. KTC’s leadership, along with its staff, researchers, faculty, and students, have built a legacy of research excellence. The Center continues to address transportation issues, deliver exemplary technology transfer, and provide outstanding customer service.