Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher visited Pikeville, Ky., to announce funding that will jump-start a project to reduce hazards and traffic congestion on Pikeville’s Bypass Road, long prone to rockfalls.
Fletcher joined state and local officials at Pikeville City Hall to present $250,000 in emergency road funds. With the money, engineers will begin plans to eliminate the rockfall problem and improve traffic flow.
“Today we are announcing an investment that will finally deliver a solution for the critical rockfall issue on Bypass Road,” Fletcher said. “Using our discretionary emergency road fund account, we are taking steps to move this project into the fast lane.”
On average, 9,500 vehicles per day travel on Bypass Road, which serves the busy Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville Elementary School and other facilities.
A stretch of the road between the Ferguson Creek intersection and KY 1460 (the Chloe Road intersection) is often plagued by rockfalls, which engineers attribute to winter freezing and spring thawing of water between gaps in the rocks.
Remedial plans will include shifting lanes away from the rock wall and adding a fence to catch falling debris. The Transportation Cabinet will also examine improvements to ease traffic congestion at the intersection of KY 1426 and Huffman Avenue by combining the two signalized intersections.
Total cost of the project, including design, right-of-way, utility work and construction is estimated at $15.7 million.
Source: Office of the Governor of Kentucky
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