New KY 32 north of existing route is Transportation Cabinet’s ‘preliminary recommended alternative’
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – In the future, motorists traveling KY 32 from Elliottville to Newfoundland will drive a completely new 12-mile roadway instead of today’s narrow and winding route.
That’s the preliminary recommended alternative recently proposed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in its ongoing project to improve the important state highway connection between Rowan and Elliott counties.
If approved by federal authorities, that alternative – specifically Alternative 3 as presented in public meetings – would create a new route north of existing KY 32 with straighter, wider travel lanes capable of carrying more traffic and decreasing travel times.
Of six proposals considered in recent years, Alternative 3 costs the least, impacts the fewest residents living along the existing highway, provides opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and allows for enhancements such as scenic pull off areas – all factors cited by the public as important during the last five years of planning and design.
The Transportation Cabinet and engineering consultants are currently working to complete an environmental assessment of the proposed alternative.
Upon approval of the assessment by the Federal Highway Administration, a public hearing on the project will be held – likely this spring – after which the second phase of roadway design could begin. Archaeology is ongoing now.
The KY 32 redesign project began in 2007 with a $300,000 planning study that sought ways to improve the state route from Elliottville in Rowan County to its junction with KY 7 at Newfoundland in Elliott County.
Since then, engineers have been analyzing data and have held meetings with local officials, stakeholders and the general public. In November 2009, a summary of planning study findings was published that proposed a mile-wide corridor within which alternative alignments could be developed.
In 2011, the project entered the design phase when the Transportation Cabinet awarded URS Corporation a $2.1 million contract to engineer specific highway improvements within that corridor.
Work included engineering, historical and environmental analysis as well as more public meetings – at least six in the last two years – at which residents, roadway users, elected officials and stakeholders considered six design alternatives that ranged from spot improvements along the existing highway to new roadways to the north or south.
In November 2012, the project team narrowed its design choice – based on project needs and public input – to the preliminary recommended alternative that’s now being advanced.
Engineering and design team distributes latest project newsletter to stakeholders, public
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (April 2012) – The latest KY 32 project newsletter contains a summary of the October public meeting, including comments about individual alternatives, as well as updates on resource agency coordination and recent project meetings.
Download the Newsletter (PDF)!
Comments being accepted on preliminary designs for KY 32 improvements; deadline is Nov. 18
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2011) – More than 120 people attended a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 27, in Sandy Hook where the Transportation Cabinet presented maps of six alternative designs for improvements along KY 32 in Elliott and Rowan counties. Officials will now use public comments and engineering analysis to narrow alternatives to preferred alternative next year.
You can help in that decision by making sure your voice is heard. Mail in your questionnaire from the public meeting, or download one from the links above and send it in by the Nov. 18 deadline.
Public meeting on design alternatives for KY 32 project set for Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m., in Sandy Hook
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2011) – How future motorists travel from Morehead to Sandy Hook will depend greatly on what the public says during a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet meeting next week.
At that meeting, set for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Elliott County High School gymnasium in Sandy Hook, the public can view maps tracing six proposed routes for rebuilding 14 miles of KY 32 in Rowan and Elliott counties and can make comments about each alternative.
While the alternatives generally follow the KY 32 corridor, each takes a slightly different path – from cutting through existing curves or bypassing them north or south, to falling in line with the existing roadway in some places.
The next step is to narrow those alternatives down to one preferred route to advance through the design phase of the project, said Darrin Eldridge, Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 project development branch engineer.
“We want as many people as possible to attend the public meeting, let us know what they think, and help us make that decision.” Eldridge said. “It’s an important step in the process to improve the highway’s safety.”
The meeting, which will follow an open house format, will include an introductory video, displays of the six roadway designs superimposed on aerial photos, and written information detailing the benefits and impacts of each alternative. Residents, motorists and other roadway users will be provided with questionnaires.
Throughout the meeting, Transportation Cabinet personnel and engineering staff will be available to explain the alternatives and answer questions about the project.
The KY 32 redesign project began in 2007 with a $300,000 planning study of the state route from Elliottville in Rowan County to its junction with KY 7 at Newfoundland in Elliott County.
Since then, engineers have been analyzing data and have held meetings with local officials, stakeholders and the general public. In November 2009, a summary of planning study findings was published that proposed a mile-wide corridor within which alternative alignments could be developed.
The project entered the design phase earlier this year when the Transportation Cabinet awarded URS Corporation a $2.1 million contract to engineer specific highway improvements within that corridor. The Oct. 27 public meeting, and an earlier one held in February, is part of that design contract.
More than 100 attend public meeting Feb. 17 for cabinet's KY 32 redesign in Elliott and Rowan counties
FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2011) – About 135 people attended a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet informational meeting Thursday, Feb. 17, in Elliottville to hear an update on redesigning KY 32 in Elliott and Rowan counties.
Participants viewed aerial maps of a mile-wide corridor centered along the existing KY 32 between Elliottville and Newfoundland where alternatives for improving the highway will be developed.
Comments were also sought from those in attendance. The comments will help engineers better understand local transportation problems, issues, concerns and potential impacts of highway changes. The Transportation Cabinet wants to remind those who attended the meeting that comment forms should be returned by March 4. Oral and written comments about the project can also be made by anyone in person or by mail at the Kentucky Department of Highways District 9 office, located at 822 Elizaville Avenue in Flemingsburg, P.O. Box 347, Flemingsburg, Ky., 41041. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The KY 32 project recently entered the design phase when the Transportation Cabinet awarded URS Corporation a $2.1 million contract to engineer the first phase of highway improvements. In addition to last week’s meeting, future public meetings regarding highway improvements are planned.