A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans an elevated level of construction activity at the Julian Carroll-Purchase Parkway/KY 348 Exit 43 Interchange work zone at Benton starting Monday, June 20, 2016. The work zone has been inactive for several months to allow fill dirt along the new ramps to settle. The contractor plans to start paving along the new ramps connecting KY 348 to the northbound and southbound lanes of the Purchase Parkway at Benton starting Monday. This paving work will be out of the flow of traffic. However, trucks delivering material to the paving site will require motorists to use extra caution when traveling the Purchase Parkway and KY 348/Symsonia Road through the interchange. Placing of base courses of asphalt will create an increased level of truck traffic at the site for about two weeks. Once the asphalt paving is completed, the contractor will begin work on bridges along the ramps on the north side of the interchange. Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers is the prime contractor on this $8.1 million project. The anticipated completion date is November 15, 2016. This work to bring the Purchase Parkway/KY 348 Benton Exit 43 Interchange up to current FHWA standards is among several projects aimed at allowing Interstate 69 to eventually be extended southward along the Purchase Parkway to Mayfield. Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1<http://www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1>. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
