Once out of the city of Paducah, US 60 again veers to the northeast, roughly following the Ohio River until reaching Smithland, where the route again turns to the east, passing through the small town of Burna.

In recent years, a bypass of US 60 around the south and east sides of Morganfield has taken a great deal of traffic congestion out of the city.

Before its completion and designation as I-264 in 1984, the Henry Watterson Expressway connecting Dixie Highway (US 31W/US 60) and Shelbyville Road (US 60) was signed US 60 Bypass.

[1] After passing Shelbyville, it continues through the state capital of Frankfort, becomes four lanes and then heads more south than east toward Versailles.

It proceeds to Mount Sterling, Morehead, past Carter Caves State Resort Park, on to Grayson and finally to Ashland.

US 23 southbound continues straight as a four-lane highway, while US 60 eastbound turns onto 35th Street, passes Oakland Avenue, and enters Kenova, West Virginia via the Billy C. Clark Bridge.

[4] Fields' opposition to the original numbering plan led to an arranged meeting with the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) Executive Committee in Chicago.

Attending was Cyrus Avery, an AASHO committee leader representing the state of Oklahoma and a proponent of the Chicago to Los Angeles route.

Avery disagreed with Fields' complaint and stated the US 60 designation should remain on the Chicago Los Angeles route.

Following the meeting, the Executive Committee decided to retain the US 60 designation for the Chicago to Los Angeles route, taking the side of Avery.

Avery was further upset that the decision to re-designate the Chicago to Los Angeles route had been done without his knowledge or consent.

AASHO officials rebutted against Avery's complaints citing he had consented to a possible number swap in the earlier Chicago meeting.

Eventually, Avery and his allied proponents agreed to let Kentucky have "US 60" so long as the Chicago to Los Angeles Route became "US 66" instead of "US 62".

Especially in the eastern and central part of the state, US 60 has been largely replaced by I-64 for long-distance travel, since both routes follow each other through much of this area.

By contrast, in the western part of the state, US 60 is not paired with an Interstate Highway and serves a much more independent purpose, connecting communities located along and near the Ohio River.