[tw-divider]Update 9/15/2014 9:45 a.m.[/tw-divider]
Yager Materials has starting paving the connection to the WESTBOUND lanes at the east end of the project near Hawesway Truck Stop. That work is expected to take about an hour or two to complete. A paint truck will immediately add traffic control stripes to the area and WESTBOUND traffic will start flowing along the New US 60 Extension at Owensboro. The crew will then start work on connections for eastbound lanes at this site.
The paving crew will then move to the west end of the project and start paving the new connection for EASTBOUND traffic. This will be near the present KY 54 Interchange with US 60. The contractor is expected to have EASTBOUND traffic flowing along the new section in time for the afternoon commute.
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A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is preparing to open a major portion of the U.S. 60 Extension Project east of Owensboro. With some final connections remaining to be completed, the contractor expects to open sections of the new highway starting at 9 a.m. CDT on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014.
KYTC District 2 Chief Engineer Kevin McClearn says the new 6-mile section of highway is designed to provide improved traffic flow between Owensboro and points to the north and east via the U.S. 231 William Natcher Bridge and U.S. 60. In addition to alerting everyone to be prepared for lane restrictions required for the changeover, McClearn cautioned motorists to be prepared for some long-term temporary connections as finish work continues over about the next eight months.
“Making all the major connections to move traffic to this new alignment of U.S. 60 will require an all-day effort on Monday,” McClearn said.
To minimize traffic snarls, the contactor plans to move traffic and pave the new connections in several stages starting at 9 a.m., Monday, following the morning commute. If all goes as planned, the changeover to the New U.S. 60 alignment should be completed in time for the Monday afternoon commute.
McClearn said some temporary traffic arrangements could be in place for several months. The most significant is an extended temporary route for westbound U.S. 60 traffic exiting to KY 54.
To access KY 54, westbound traffic on New U.S. 60 will exit at KY 603/Pleasant Valley Road, follow the connector to the old lanes of U.S. 60, then turn left to access the KY 54 ramp. Signage will be in place to direct traffic along this extended detour.
“This traffic configuration will be in place until late this fall when final connections between the new lanes and the ramp should be completed,” McClearn said. “Motorists are asked to use caution.”
As part of the new configuration, Old U.S. 60 between Hawes Boulevard and KY 144 will become part of KY 2830 and Old U.S. 60 from KY 144 to the end of the old bypass will become part of KY 144. Signs indicating those route changes will go up over the next few weeks.
In its entirety, the $72.7 million U.S. 60 Extension Project runs from the KY 54 interchange with existing U.S. 60 to the Hawes Boulevard intersection at Hawesway Truck Stop east of Owensboro. It included construction of eight bridges.
Opening of the new highway creates the final piece of what is a seamless, 100-mile, four-lane corridor between I-65 at Bowling Green and I-64 at Dale, Indiana. The low-bid contracts for both phases were awarded to Owensboro-based Yager Materials LLC.
Motorists are asked to use caution along the new highway as it continues to be an active work zone with finish work extending into 2015.
