Work starts on new ramps at KY 54/U.S. 60 Interchange in Owensboro | Transportation

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to begin construction of new ramps at the KY 54/East Parrish Avenue Interchange with U.S. 60/Wendell Ford Expressway in Owensboro today.

The project will align ramps to and from U.S. 60 with a new signalized intersection on KY 54 at the entrance to the new Heartlands Crossing/Menards Development.  It will include a new right turn lane for eastbound KY 54/East Parrish Avenue traffic to enter U.S. 60 westbound, and feature an extended acceleration lane for both eastbound and westbound traffic from KY 54 transitioning to U.S. 60 westbound lanes.

According to KYTC District 2 Chief Engineer Kevin McClearn, the need for a project grew out of discussions at the Owensboro Planning and Zoning public meetings on how to best handle added traffic generated by the Heartland Crossing/Menards Development.

An early design called for removing the traffic signal at the intersection of East Byers Avenue and Ragu Drive and routing some East Byers traffic through proposed city streets within the development area.

“It quickly became apparent that residents of  The Heartlands neighborhood were very much against that solution,” McClearn said. “Ultimately, we were able to come up with a construction alternative that we could fund. Matching up the ramps to and from U.S. 60 to the Menards entrance benefits all travelers in the area, and the addition of a right turn on-ramp from KY 54 to U.S. 60 with an extended acceleration lane adds a lot of functionality to the interchange.”

In addition to new ramps at the KY 54/U.S. 60 interchange, the project includes intersection improvements on KY 54 at the intersection with East Byers Avenue/Ragu Drive immediately west of the U.S. 60 Interchange.

This work zone is at U.S. 60 mile point 18.690 and KY 54 mile point 2.559.

As this construction work ramps up the traveling public can expect to encounter lane restrictions, as well as flaggers, equipment, and construction personnel working in close proximity to traffic flow.  Appropriate caution is required.

KYTC engineers and the contractor will attempt to provide advance notice of significant changes in traffic flow for this work zone.

Yager Materials is the prime contractor on the $2,545,433 project.  The expected completion date is Aug. 15, 2013.