PADUCAH, Ky. (Oct. 29, 2019) — A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans daytime closures for curb and gutter upgrades along a section of U.S. 60 (South Street) in Marion starting as early as Wednesday, October 30, 2019.
As weather and crew scheduling allows, the contractor plans daytime closures of U.S. 60 (South Main Street) from the traffic signal at the U.S. 641 and Gum Street intersection extending northward to the KY 506/Depot Street intersection. This section is expected to be closed from approximately 7 a.m. to about 4 p.m., central time, each day.
During these daytime closures, U.S. 60 traffic will be detoured via KY 981/Old Salem Road and KY 91/Bellville Street. Closing this 2 block section of U.S. 60/South Main Street will allow the contractor to complete the work more quickly and efficiently.
Portable message boards alerting the public to the daytime closures are expected to up today. About 8,700 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60 (South Main Street) in Marion during an average day.
Once curb work is completed along this section of U.S. 60 in downtown Marion, KYTC engineers will establish a schedule for base repairs and asphalt paving.
The initial curb and gutter work along South Main Street is under a KYTC master agreement for highway maintenance. KYTC engineers indicated the specific start date for the curb and gutter work will be dictated by the weather and completion of other ongoing projects by the contractor. The Transportation Cabinet will attempt to provide timely notice as the work zone activity ramps up.
The contractor had planned to start work along a section of U.S. 60/North Main Street last week. However, curb and gutter work along North Main Street from the KY 91/KY 120/Bellville Street intersection extending northward to First Street has been put on hold pending ongoing discussions between KYTC engineers and the City of Marion. The project to improve traffic flow in the 3 block area included creation of a center turn lane. While city officials requested the center turn lane, they have now expressed concern about the removal of seven parking spaces that would be required.to provide space for the extra lane. More than 7,600 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60/North Main Street in an average day.