Park Avenue in Paducah closed at North 9th Street starting Tuesday

UPDATE: The closure on Park Avenue Tuesday has been postponed until further notice due to the fact that critical materials for the project have not been delivered.

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A contractor for P&L Railroad plans to close U.S. 60-Business/Park Avenue in Paducah starting Tuesday.

This closure at the one-way westbound intersection with North Ninth Street is to allow rail crossing upgrades.

The roadway at this site is expected to close promptly at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. It is expected to reopen to traffic late on July 24.

There will be marked detour via U.S. 45-Business/North Eighth Street and U.S. 45/H.C. Mathis Drive.

Motorists who regularly travel the one-way westbound section of U.S. 60-Business/Park Avenue near Ninth Street in Paducah should make advance alternate travel plans next week.

P&L Railroad and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel will attempt to provide timely notice when the roadway is able to reopen to traffic at this site.

Approximately 4,500 vehicles travel this one-way westbound section of U.S. 60-Business in an average day.

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Schools to host back-to-school session

The start of school in Crittenden County is less than a month away, and the school district will prepare students and parents with annual back-to-school functions.

For elementary students, Sneak-A-Peak will be held Aug. 6 at the school. Students’ whose last name starts with the letters A-M will meet with school officials from 5 to 6 p.m. Remaining students are invited from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For middle and high school students, the Back to School Bash will be held the same day from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the middle school gym.

The Crittenden Press will publish its annual back-to-school section July 30.

Both Ky. 425 bypass ramps to parkway at Henderson now closed

Since a contractor closed the ramp connecting the Ky. 425 Henderson bypass with the northbound lanes of the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway at Henderson, a number of motorists have continued to take the southbound ramp and illegally cross through the median on the Pennyrile.  This has created a hazard to traffic on the Pennyrile and tied up law enforcement resources in this area.

To improve safety the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) has authorized the contractor to also close the Ky. 425 southbound ramp to the Pennyrile Parkway at Exit 76. This eliminates the hazard of vehicles illegally crossing through the median and eliminates the need for law enforcement at the site.

All eastbound traffic on the Ky. 425 Henderson bypass is now being diverted to U.S. 41 northbound or southbound.

Motorists seeking to travel south on the Pennyrile Parkway should now follow the marked detour southbound on U.S. 41 to the Ky. 416 Robards/Niagara interchange. Motorists traveling east on the bypass seeking to travel north on the Pennyrile Parkway should continue to follow the marked detour along U.S. 41 northbound to reach the Pennyrile Parkway northbound lanes.

According to KyTC spokesman Keith Todd, the bypass ramp to the southbound lanes of the Pennyrile had to be closed due to the number of vehicles taking that ramp, then making illegal U-turns to head back north on the Pennyrile.

“On Friday we had an incident where a semi had to swerve to avoid a passenger vehicle that was backing up in the passing lane of the Pennyrile to access a crossover,” Todd said.  “Stopping in a lane of a high-speed parkway is bad enough, but backing up into oncoming traffic that is running 70 mph shows a total disregard for your own safety and the safety of others. After analyzing the continuing issue, traffic engineers concluded the best approach to maintain safety for those traveling the Pennyrile would be to close the southbound ramp and redirect that traffic along U.S. 41 to the Ky. 416 interchange.”

The contractor has placed additional message boards and signage along Ky. 425 to direct motorists to and along the appropriate detour routes.

Ramps from the Pennyrile to the Ky. 425 bypass remain open in this work zone.

“This is a continuing issue of a few people endangering others in an effort to save a few seconds.  For someone heading from Ky. 425 northward toward the Twin Bridges, the detour along U.S. 41 added maybe 30 seconds of travel time,” Todd said.  “Closing the southbound ramp to the Pennyrile at this site will create an additional inconvenience, but it will help maintain the safety of those traveling along the Pennyrile at Exit 76.”

Todd also noted that motorists can be issued citations for disregarding “Road Closed” signs and other work zone traffic control devices.

Traffic on the bypass seeking to take the Audubon Parkway eastbound to Owensboro will be required to loop through the Ky. 351/Zion Road Interchange to access the Audubon via the Pennyrile Parkway southbound lanes.

Motorists who regularly travel the sections of U.S. 41 being used for the detour should be aware of increased traffic flow.

The closure of the bypass ramps to the Pennyrile Parkway at Henderson Exit 76 is to allow concrete rehabilitation work and diamond grinding along the northbound ramp. The ramps are expected to be closed to all traffic for about three weeks, weather permitting.

Sturgis motorcycle rally starts today

Each year the Kentucky Bike Rally in Sturgis brings thousands of motorcycles and motorcycle riders to the region.

The event begins today and runs through Sunday. 

Drivers are reminded to be extra alert for an influx of motorcycles as riders from all over the nation hit the road to attend the event.  

Motorcycles should be expected across the county all weekend. Regular commuters along U.S. 60 and Ky. 109 should be aware of traffic congestion near the Union County Fairgrounds at Sturgis as motorcycles, RVs and other support vehicles make their way in and out of the bike rally. 

The Kentucky Motorcycle Association has purchased and placed "Share the Road" signs along major routes in Union and neighboring counties to remind motorists to be alert for riders.

Transportation officials are also reminding riders to be safety-minded as they cruise back roads during the event.

Lourdes awaits OK to create cancer center

Paducah's Lourdes hospital plans to create a comprehensive cancer program that will streamline patient care by bringing medical and radiation oncology services under one roof. The hospital has filed a certificate of need application with the state and completed an extensive hearing. Approval for the cancer center is now pending, according to Lourdes CEO Steven Grinnell and Mercy Health Kentucky Board of Directors Chairman Roger Harris.

For the full story, visit The Paducah Sun online.

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KSP selling chances at GMC Sierra

In observance of the 50th anniversary of Trooper Island, Kentucky State Police is featuring a tough, yet stylish 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab SLE pickup in its fundraising raffle this year. 

Designed for work or play, the truck includes a Sonoma Red Metallic exterior and Jet Black interior; a four-door, air-conditioned crew cab with heated, leather front seats; a 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 engine with 355 hp; a six-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive; electric power steering; and a five-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty 

For a chance to put this truck to work in your family or business fleet, tickets can be purchased for $10 at The Crittenden Press office at 125 E. Bellville St. in Marion during regular business hours. You may also contact Trooper First Class Darron Holliman or any trooper or Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer. Tickets are also available online by debit or credit card payment at TrooperIsland.org.

Only 20,000 tickets will be sold. The winning ticket will be drawn on Aug. 30 at the Kentucky State Fair. Ticket holders do not have to be present at the drawing to win. Raffle winner is responsible for all tax and license fees.

Trooper Island is a free summer camp for underprivileged boys and girls age 10-12 operated by KSP on Dale Hollow Lake in Clinton County. It is financed entirely by donations; no public funds are used. Each year, the camp hosts approximately 700 children, providing good food, fresh air, recreation, guidance and structured, esteem-building activities designed to build good citizenship and positive relationships with law enforcement officers.

Church plans community outreach

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Paducah developers sign hotel agreement

Paducah is one step closer to seeing a Holiday Inn go up on its riverfront. Glenn and Mary Higdon of LinGate Hospitality formally signed the hotel agreement with the Paducah City Commission at its meeting Tuesday. LinGate Hospitality has plans to build an $18 million, five-story, 123-room Holiday Inn near the Julian Carroll Convention Center downtown.

For the full story, visit The Paducah Sun online.

Spraying to affect I-24 traffic

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spray crew plans median spraying along Interstate 24 through Marshall and McCracken counties on Thursday.

 

Motorists are asked to use appropriate caution when they encounter spray trucks and support vehicles.

 

This spray crew will be moving at about 15 mph with a four-vehicle caravan in the left hand or passing lane of I-24.  The spray crew plans to start from the U.S. 62 Calvert City Exit 27 in Marshall County at about 8 a.m. and work along the westbound passing lane to arrive at the the Ohio River Bridge at Paducah around 11 a.m. The crew will then reverse direction about noon and work along the eastbound lanes of I-24 to about the 13-mile marker.

 

Motorists are asked to slow down and use appropriate caution when they encounter this caravan working along Interstate 24 on Thursday.

 

Depending on weather and other factors, the crew may be back out on additional sections of I-24 on Friday and into next week.

What's news this week in Crittenden County...

First Lt. Colby Davis of Marion supervises a recovery operation by the 1123rd Engineer Co., 206th Engineer Battalion, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of the Kentucky Army National Guard during annual training last August at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. The "sappers" of the Marion armory have been named the best engineer company from the entire U.S. Army National Guard in 2014 thanks.

SOLDIERS WITH the Carson G. Davidson National Guard Armory in Marion are the very best the U.S. Army National Guard has to offer, and they have the hardware to prove it.

Marion's association with the National Guard is a long and proud one dating back to the Civil War when the "Marion Rifles" road horseback against the Confederacy. Guardsmen from the local units have served as combatants in the Spanish-American War, World War II and the ongoing War on Terror. They have been called upon domestically to serve as peacekeepers during insurrections and provide disaster relief when Mother Nature has lashed out at Kentuckians. But today, the combat engineers with the Marion armory boast the title of the Guard’s Most Outstanding Engineer Company of the Year for 2014.

Read more on this, plus the following stories found inside this week's issue of The Crittenden Press:

• Summer rains giveth, taketh away from farmers.
• Duvall retiring from classroom after 32 years.
• After 36 years, Crider leaving dental business.
• Boy with rare condition still in need of bone marrow transplant.
• Brothers returns from fighting Alaskan wildfires.
• Longtime EMT Shouse retires.
• 3 Marion men charged with Salem trailer theft.
• FORGOTTEN PASSAGES: Step back in time to 1926.

Shawneetown Bridge work to create delays

Pouring of concrete for the deck rehabilitation project on the Ky. 56/Ill. Route 13 Ohio River “Shawneetown” Bridge will create travel delays Friday night and possible Saturday night this week.



To assist with efforts to get a smooth surface on the bridge, traffic will be slowed to about 20 miles per hour from about 10 p.m. Friday through about 5 a.m. Saturday. Depending on progress, similar delays are possible on Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Traffic may be halted at times to allow concrete trucks to access the work area making delays likely.

Traffic in this work zone is restricted to one lane and a 10-foot maximum load width to allow a latex concrete overlay on the bridge deck driving surface.

Motorists should be alert for one-lane traffic in this work zone with alternating flow controlled by an automated signal. Delays of five to 10 minutes are likely, particularly during the movement and placement of equipment for these overnight concrete pours and finishing work.

 Commuters traveling the bridge between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Friday night and Saturday night should add additional travel time.

American Contracting and Services of Jeffersonville, Indiana, is the prime contractor on the $2.7 million bridge deck overlay project. The contractor has 90 days to complete the project, putting the anticipated completion date around Sept. 27.



The Shawneetown Bridge connects Ky. 56 (Morganfield-Shawneetown Road) with Ill. Route 13 across the Ohio River between Morganfield, Ky., and Shawneetown, Ill. About 3,800 vehicles cross the bridge in an average day.

The 3,200-foot structure opened to traffic in 1956, maintaining a historic transportation link that started with ferry service at the site as early as 1802.

New traffic law starts today

The Kentucky Motorcycle Association (KMA) is reminding drivers of a new law in the state to take effect today.

Beginning today, motorcyclists will be allowed to legally drive through red lights where a signal change is triggered by sensors in the pavement that detect vehicles at an intersection. Lightweight vehicles like motorcycles are often not detected by the sensors, forcing riders to sit at a stop signal for extended periods.

To alleviate the problem, Kentucky this year became the 15th state to implement the so-called “safe on red” law that allows motorcyclists to legally drive through red lights. In Marion, the signal at the intersection of Main and Bellville streets is triggered by in-pavement sensors.

“This is a safety issue to keep motorcyclists from being struck from behind, or struck while waiting for a light to change,” read a news release from KMA. “Most times at such accidents, the driver claims he didn't see the motorcycle.”

Area deaths

Eugene Johnson "E.J." Engler, 71, of Providence died July 10, 2015, at his home. Jones & Kirby Funeral Home in Providence was in charge of arrangements.

Louie M. Dismore, 58, of Carrsville died July 11, 2015, at his home. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is in charge of arrangements.

Severe t-storm watch issued

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Crittenden County until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Weather offers triple threat today

Today, the National Weather Service in Paducah is warning of a triple weather threat for the county.

With high humidity and temperatures in the 90s predicted, a heat advisory has been issued. Today's heat index will reach triple digits, putting a strain on humans, animals and air conditioners. Care should be taken to avoid overheating. Animals should be provided shade and adequate water. The heat and humidity is expected to linger all week.

A flash flood watch is in effect through Wednesday morning. With already-saturated ground, any signifant rainfall could lead to flash flooding. Strong storms are possible locally beginning this afternoon and continuing into the night.

There is also a high pollen alert.

Ramp closure to affect Henderson traffic

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close a ramp connecting the Ky. 425 Henderson Bypass with the northbound lanes of the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway at Henderson starting Monday.

The closure of the Ky. 425 Henderson Bypass ramp to the northbound lanes of the Pennyrile Parkway at Henderson Exit 76 is to allow concrete rehabilitation work and diamond grinding along the ramp. The ramp is expected to be closed to all traffic for about three to four weeks, weather permitting.

There will be a marked detour via U.S. 41 northbound to Pennyrile Parkway, Exit 77. Traffic on the Ky. 425 Henderson Bypass seeking to take the Audubon Parkway eastbound to Owensboro will be required to loop through the Ky. 351/Zion Road Interchange to access the Audubon via the Pennyrile Parkway southbound lanes.

Motorists who regularly travel the section of U.S. 41 being used for the detour should be aware of increased traffic.

Traffic restriction Monday on West Gum

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane along a section of U.S. 60 at Marion in Crittenden County on Monday.

The Crittenden County Highway Maintenance Crew plans ditching and drainage work along U.S. 60 at mile-point 8.6 at the west edge of Marion. This is along U.S. 60 (West Gum Street) near Crittenden County High School and the hospital.

Motorists should be prepared to encounter one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers between approximately 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday. 

Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers and maintenance personnel are working along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. Delays should be less than 4 to 5 minutes. However, some longer delays are possible during the movement and positioning of equipment to facilitate the work.

Fracking hot topic during public forum

Representatives from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and its agencies heard passionate statements from several area residents and fuel producers Tuesday in the first of three public comment meetings regarding oil and gas development in the state. The meeting, held at Madisonville Community College, gave interested parties the opportunity to openly voice their opinions to a panel of directors from the EEC, Division of Oil and Gas and Division of Water.

Oil and gas development has a significant impact locally.

"In 2014, Henderson, Union, Hopkins, Webster and Muhlenberg counties combined to produce over 862,000 barrels of oil, equaling 25 percent of the state's production," Andrew McNeill, executive director of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, said. "With that production, over $3.5 million in severance tax was generated for state and local governments."

For the complete story, visit the Madisonville Messenger online.