A contractor for The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to shift northbound traffic on the Purchase Parkway to the new alignment in the Interstate 24/Purchase Parkway Exit 25 Interchange work zone in Marshall County on Friday, Oct. 6.
This traffic Shift for northbound Purchase Parkway traffic is expected to take place at approximately 9 a.m. Friday, and will put northbound Parkway traffic on what will eventually be the alignment for Interstate 69 in the new interchange. Northbound Parkway traffic will be automatically transitioned to the eastbound lanes of I-24.
The traffic Shift will also open “Ramp A”, which is the flyover ramp to carry traffic to the end of the Parkway at US 62 in Calvert City and the exit for motorists seeking to transition to I-24 westbound. Motorist should be aware that once this traffic switch takes place access to I-24 westbound and Calvert City via the Parkway will require them to Exit off the Purchase Parkway to the right of the new alignment. If northbound motorists remain on the Parkway as it was they will arrive at the merge point with I-24 Eastbound.
Permanent signage will not be in place before the traffic switch happens. The contractor will utilize message boards and temporary signage to direct motorists. There will also be some pavement markings placed the day of the traffic shift that will restrict northbound Parkway traffic to one lane at times on the approach to the new ramp.
Motorists should be alert for substantial changes in traffic flow this shift will create for northbound Parkway traffic.
Motorists should be alert for workers changing traffic control during this northbound Purchase Parkway traffic Shift on Friday morning. There will be an enhanced police presence in the area.
While this traffic shift will move northbound Parkway traffic to the new alignment, there is still a significant amount of work to complete before other portions of the new interchange can be opened to traffic.
As a reminder, some ramp closures within the construction zone remain in place with traffic following marked detours. Westbound I-24 traffic will continue running on a diversion through this work zone between I-24 Exit 25 and Exit 27.
This traffic shift is part of a larger work zone along I-24 in Marshall County between the 25 and 27 mile marker and along the Purchase Parkway between the 49 and 52 mile marker at the I-24 Exit 25 Interchange. Reconstruction of the Exit 25 interchange is aimed at allowing I-69 to be extended southward along the parkway in the future.
The I-24/Purchase Parkway Exit 25 work zone includes a 55 mph speed limit with an enhanced enforcement presence and double fines for citations. Some of the crossovers and more restricted sections of the parkway in this work zone have a 45 mph work zone speed limit for safety.
Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers is the prime contractor on the $37.8 million interchange reconstruction project. The new I-24/I-69 interchange at Calvert City has a target completion date of July 1, 2018.