Motorists traveling westbound on Interstate 24 through parts of Caldwell, Lyon and Trigg counties need to be aware a contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to ramp up preparations for a project to replace or repair concrete starting Tuesday.
District 1 spokesman Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the work zone will be from the 69 to 51-mile markers through parts of the three counties. He adds eastbound lanes will carry two-way traffic while ten miles of the westbound side is closed for reconstruction.
According to Todd, construction barrels will be used to establish lane restrictions until installation starts on a centerline barrier wall around Friday. When the installation begins, eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane, and the contractor will set a date for westbound traffic to be shifted to one lane once the barrier wall is in place.
District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat says a 55 mph work zone speed limit will be strictly enforced with an enhanced police presence.
Poet adds any highway work zone can be potentially hazardous, but when interstate traffic must be tapered down to one lane and diverted to the opposite traffic lanes, it is essential that drivers reduce their speed, eliminate all distractions, and give their full attention to the roadway ahead.
Todd says truckers should be aware there will be two different maximum load widths — 15 feet for eastbound vehicles and 12 feet for those traveling westbound, due to the barrier wall.
He adds a section of the westbound pavement repair work from the Trigg-Christian County line near the 69-mile marker to the U.S. 68 Cadiz-Hopkinsville Exit 65 interchange will be completed with lane restrictions using construction barrels only.
