Three projects planned along Highway 79 between Brandenburg and Irvington received input from residents earlier this month.
Eighty-two people signed in and good public feedback was gathered at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s public meeting on June 9, at Irvington Elementary School regarding projects along Kentucky 79.
Three alternates were presented for two projects which are KY 79 from KY 477 to KY 428 (Guston Road) and KY 79 from KY 428 (Guston Road) to KY 144 (Midway Road). The goal of these projects is to improve safety and mobility along the corridor between Irvington and Midway.
Each alternate addresses issues such as improving curves and sight distance by reconstructing existing roadway with wider lanes and shoulders. Consideration is also given within each alternate to better facilitate truck traffic and to maintain traffic during construction. Each alternate involves purchasing of right of way, including potential residential and commercial relocations. The exact number of impacted properties varies with each alternate. Estimated total cost also varies with each alternate.
Currently, the project will continue up to the point of choosing between available alternates for the section of Highway 79 between Irvington and Midway. Larry Krueger, Design Engineer with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 4 office in Elizabethtown, says a choice will likely be made by the end of October. While funding for final design, right of way acquisitions and utility relocations was identified in the 2016 Biennial Construction Plan, current statewide budgetary constraints are anticipated to delay start of these phases.
Funding and schedules for continuing phases and construction are likely to depend on future legislative action. After a decision between alternates is made, a project update will be added to the website and mailed to those who signed in at the meeting.
These projects align with an original KY 79 project in Meade County from Midway to Brandenburg, which is already designed and is in the right of way purchasing phase. The first project is also on hold due to budgetary constraints and is currently under review.
For more information and materials from the meeting may be found below:
Meade/ Breckinridge County Highway 79 Midway to Irvington Projects
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