BENTON – A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to ramp up work on reconstruction of the Purchase Parkway/KY 348 Exit 43 Interchange at Benton in Marshall County on Monday, June 1.
Initial work to this point has been away from traffic off on the right of way with few traffic restrictions. Starting Monday, the contractor plans to remove the median along KY 348 on the bridge over the Parkway. This work will require one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers along KY 348 through the interchange. This is at KY 348 mile point 7.493 west of Benton.
Motorists should use appropriate caution where equipment, flaggers, and construction personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. This reconstruction work at the Purchase Pkwy/KY 348 Exit 43 Interchange for Benton-Symsonia will continue to escalate through the summer months. We will attempt to provide timely updates when construction activities may impact traffic flow.
Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers is the prime contractor on this $8.1 million highway improvement project. The anticipated completion date is June 30, 2016. The interchange and about a 1 mile section of the parkway will be reconstructed from the old toll booth cloverleaf ramp arrangement to a modern diamond interchange.
This project to bring the interchange up to current FHWA standards is among about 10 major projects totaling $260 million aimed at allowing Interstate 69 to be extended southward along the Purchase Parkway and northward along the Pennyrile Parkway.