According to a release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the U.S. 60 Rehab Project (former bypass) is 30% Complete.
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is making good progress on a major rehabilitation and reconstruction of U.S. 60/Wendell H. Ford Expressway around Owensboro, in spite of wet weather this spring.
This is the first major rehabilitation of this section of U.S. 60 since it was constructed about 46 years ago. The project includes full-depth reconstruction along much of this section, with a 10-inch asphalt overlay along the rest, as well as drainage improvements, bridge deck overlay work, ramp reconstruction, and guardrail upgrades.
During Phase I of the project, the contractor is working along the eastbound lanes of U.S. 60 with 2-way traffic running on the westbound lanes. The contractor expects the reconstructed eastbound lanes to be ready for traffic sometime around July 4th and anticipates shifting traffic sometime near that date.
At this time, the eastbound U.S. 60 entry and exit ramps at the U.S. 431 (Frederica) interchange are closed and will remain closed until the traffic shift is completed. Once the eastbound ramps reopen, the westbound entry and exit ramps connecting U.S. 60 and U.S. 431 will close for an extended period while the contractor reconstructs the westbound lanes.
About 29,000 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60/The Wendell Ford Expressway at Owensboro in an average day.
Due to traffic flow restrictions through the U.S. 60 work zone, motorists are asked to consider taking an alternate route to help reduce traffic congestion. As a reminder, this work zone has a strictly enforced 45 mile per hour speed limit with an enhanced enforcement presence and double fines for speeding.
Yager Materials of Owensboro is the prime contractor on this $17,756,397 highway improvement project. Due to heavy rain this spring and other factors, the U.S. 60 rehab project at Owensboro now has an estimated completion date of November 15, 2015.
Yager is also the prime contractor on a paving project along the section of U.S. 60 between the Horse Fork Creek Bridge and the end of the New U.S. 60 Extension Project that opened last fall. Paving on that section of U.S. 60/The Wendell Ford Expressway at Owensboro is expected to start in about a month, weather permitting. A traffic advisory will alert the public once a start date has been set.
Read the May 2nd Owensboro Living post on the US 60 project here and the May 7th follow up here.
