Finally, Frankfort is getting ready to build a bypass around Columbia, a project old-timers have heard about since way back in the 1900s. When it's built, it will be grand, it will cost a lot of money, and it might bring much joy and happiness.

Yet, those around here who are old enough to remember when the greatest Public Works Superintendent in the history of the Commonwealth, Elvin Corbin, built Hurt Street with just an old bulldozer, a dump truck, a grader and a roller, know that not all the engineering genius in Kentucky resides in the Transportation's District Offices. Hurt Street is still an engineering marvel.

The accompanying map illustrates some pretty nifty ideas local armchair engineers have come up with for alleviating Columbia's traffic problems, with very little disruption of our way of life. No brainers. Prime rib at White Castle Prices:

SHORTCUT s1: The Pyles Parkway. Randall Pyles,President of Pyles Concrete, says that completing a .7 mile stretch would complete a frontage road along the Cumberland Parkway, to extend from behind the Nazarene Church to Highway 61 South. Pyles says that the cost would be little enough that either the city or county could construct it and that the state ought to build it. "This would open up more land to development than any other project," he says. Other advantages: 1) An easy crossover from Highways West 80 and South 61 to either the Cumberland Parkway interchange or to Jamestown Street/Highway 55 South. 2) Less traffic on Jamestown Street, and 3) Only one bridge would have to be built, And spanning Petty's Fork isn't equal to an Ohio River Bridge project..

SHORTCUT s2: The Charles Barnes Boulevard. By extending Gaskin Avenue south, then east to Highway 80 East, traffic could easily flow out of the Columbia Shopping Center. Access to Westlake Cumberland Hospital from Westlake Primary Care or Aaron Medical Center might frequently be better. Other advantages: 1) Less traffic on Jamestown Street. 2) No-stress access to the Dairy Queen, and the Eastern Adair Pizza Crisis would be eased.

SHORTCUT s3: Tunnel under the Cumberland Parkway off Industrial Drive. No one has ever given a convincing reason why there wasn't tunnel under the highway when it was built. Workers who live on Highway 206 and in the Eastern part of the county could have saved 100's of thousands of dollars-maybe millions-in gasoline, not to mention the savings in human suffering from claustrophobia, stroke, and heart attack, had this tunnel been built.

SHORTCUT s4: South Central Printing Parkway. Extending Oak Street around the Fairgrounds to Highway 206, approximately .3 mile, would be even less expensive than Shortcut #1. There's no bridge to build. Advantages: 1) The Jaycees could add a back gate to the Fairgrounds, 2) It would offer resourceful travelers another option to flee the 4 p.m. Campbellsville Street madness, 3) Workers could get to the printing plant easier and 4) the City might build it, charge a toll, and be able to extend the municipal surplus to a full year's budget (it's only about nine months' worth now).

SHORTCUT s5: Sewer Plant-Harry Webb Hollow Parkway. Another escape from Campbellsville Street. This one would extend from the south side of the Campbellsville Street Bridge along Russell Creek and cut through the gap to intersect Greensburg Street at Harry Webb Hollow. Not very far. Other advantages: 1) Good mountain bike trail, 2) Scenic highway for tourists, and 3) Just a good shortcut.