Department of Highways, District 6
Turfway Road Expansion Begins

Turfway Road Expansion Begins

Covington, Kentucky – (August 3, 2005) – As part of Governor Ernie Fletcher and acting Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert’s vision of providing a safe and reliable transportation system, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announces that KY 1017/Turfway Road will be beginning it’s widening project tomorrow.

“The expansion of Turfway Road is another example of our commitment to improving safety on our highways while making the necessary improvements that will increase the potential of future economic development opportunities and preserve the quality of life for citizens of Boone County and for Northern Kentucky,” said Nighbert..

“This project will help alleviate this highly congested area,” Tom Schomaker, District Six Chief Engineer added.

Lawrence Construction and Leasing, Inc. from Burlington, Kentucky was awarded the project with their successful bid of $10,681,405.79 million.

The project will go from Dixie Highway (US 25) to the back entrances to Turfway Park for a distance of 1.9 miles.   From Dixie Highway to just before Thoroughbred Drive (KY 717) there will be five lanes, two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes with a continuous turning lane.  There will be sidewalks on both sides up to Thoroughbred Drive.  There will also be bike lanes installed from Houston Road to the back entrances of Turfway Park.

At the Cinema’s, just before Thoroughbred Road,  the lanes will be reduced to three lanes, one eastbound lane and one westbound lane with a continuous turning lane which tapers out to two lanes to the back entrances of Turfway Park.   After Thoroughbred Drive there will be a sidewalk on the north side of the road.

The road will not be closed and traffic will be maintained during construction. Due to the complexity of this project, work will be performed in different areas to meet the daily times of traffic flow and to allow for congested traffic during rush hours.   As work progresses, intersections at KY 18, Houston Road and the ramps at I-75 will be impacted by the project.

Beginning tomorrow motorist are cautioned to be aware of the possible traffic restrictions involving flaggers between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Turfway Road just west of Thoroughbred Drive and Turfway Park.

Construction updates will be given weekly.  They will be sent out to media and posted on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Six webpage in the Road Report link http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/D6/D6.htm

Completion of the Turfway Road Expansion anticipates to be completed by late summer of 2007.