Thursday, May 31, 2012

WK Parkway traffic stoppage next week

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY - JUNE 6-7

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a rolling road block and brief traffic stoppage which will disrupt traffic flow on the Western Kentucky Parkway near the Caldwell-Hopkins County Line on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

This work between Princeton and Dawson Springs will mean very slow traffic flow and idled delays of 20 to 30 minutes on June 6 and 7. The disruptions in traffic flow are to allow for reconstruction of the Ky. 2619 overpass.

Rolling road blocks will start about 9 a.m., each day, beginning about 6 miles from the work site. Traffic will be slowed to 10 miles per hour by police, creating about a half-hour break in traffic flow that will allow the contractor to erect portions of the new overpass structure. The contractor expects 4 or 5 rolling road blocks each day with a duration of about a half-hour each to place the bridge support structure.

Motorists should be alert for variable messages boards and appropriate signage as they approach this work zone. Travel delays of about 20 to 30 minutes are expected during each rolling road block.

The rolling road blocks and traffic stoppages on the westbound lanes are scheduled for Wednesday, June.  Police will assist with slowing and stopping westbound traffic with the first rolling road block to start about 9 a.m. The contractor will use the break in traffic created by the rolling road block to place beams for the new overpass above the westbound lanes.

During work along the westbound lanes, the westbound entry ramp at Ky. 109 Dawson Springs Exit 24 will be closed once each rolling road block starts. Some minor traffic stoppages may also be required to facilitate the work.

The rolling road blocks and traffic stoppages on the eastbound lanes are scheduled for Thursday, June 7. Police will assist with slowing and stopping eastbound traffic with the first rolling road block to start about 9 a.m. The contractor will use the break in traffic created by the rolling road block to place beams for the new overpass above the eastbound lanes.

Motorists who regularly travel this section of the parkway should be aware of this planned work and expect delays of about a half-hour during each rolling road block. Motorists may consider a self-detour via U.S. 62 which provides a parallel route.

This overpass replacement project is among several that will be required through the summer construction season as part of a $9.9 million contract  to bring this section of the former Western Kentucky Parkway up to federal standards now that it is part of Interstate 69.