Blasting for U.S. 641 begins in Crayne

After blasting today, work resumed on cutting a path through
the Crayne Knobs for the new, four-lane U.S. 641. Blasting will
continue until the adjacent knobs are tapered from the top down
in the form of a V in order to create a road bed between the two
topographic features.

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC)completed a test blast today as part of construction on the New U.S. 641 Corridor in Crittenden County. The test explosion was set off just before 1 p.m.

The test blast was to allow engineers to calculate the optimum amount of explosives required for excavation at the site as work goes forward.

Completion of the test blast should allow production blasting to begin in about seven to 10 days. The contractor plans blasts about every one to two days with all blasting at approximately noon. Blasting on the project will be isolated to the area between Crayne Cemetery Road and Lloyd Road southeast of the Crayne community. An audible safety warning horn will provide an advance notice near the blasting site.

The blasting site will be in the knobs area east of existing U.S. 641 between mile-points 2.565 and 3.188.

The contractor and transportation engineers will coordinate efforts to provide updated information to the public as the blasting schedule firms up.

Road Builders and Parkway Construction of Greenville is the Prime contractor on this $18.6 million highway improvement project to build a 4-lane section between Marion and Fredonia.

For pictures of today's activity, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheCrittendenPress.

Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KyTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.