In February 2005, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) completed the Heartland Parkway Alternatives Planning Study. That analyzed alternative corridors connecting the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway to the south with the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway to the north.
Alternatives studied include a no-build option, following the existing alignment, and developing a new alignment. The alternative recommended for further study followed the existing alignment and utilized KY 55, US 68, and KY 555. Use of the bypasses around the communities of Columbia and Lebanon were recommended. A new bypass around Campbellsville to the southeast was recommended. The KYTC has since divided the corridor into smaller sections for preliminary engineering and environmental assessment.