Dozens of friends, family members and public officials turned out Wednesday for the ceremonial unveiling of highway signs honoring the late Joel Hopper, a community advocate and business leader who died unexpectedly in June 2025 at age 77.
Signs marking the Joel Ray Hopper Memorial Highway have already been erected on a one-year-old, 2.5-mile stretch of four-lane highway connecting U.S. 41/Interstate 69 with the new roundabouts on U.S. 60-East, adjacent to Hopper’s former home.
The roadway will become part of I-69 when the new Ohio River bridge opens, which is scheduled for 2031. Until then, it is designated as Kentucky 3690…