Addition of yellow turn arrows to enhance pedestrian crossings

PADUCAH, Ky. (News First) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a work zone with a temporary ALL-WAY STOP along the one-way sections of U.S. 641 in Downtown Benton at the Court Square on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Southbound motorists should be alert for a work zone at the U.S. 641/Main Street intersection with West 11th Street.  Northbound motorists should be alert for a work zone at the U.S. 641/Poplar Street intersection with KY 408/East 12th Street.

Work zones with a temporary ALL-WAY STOP will be active at these locations starting at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, to facilitate traffic signal changes for installation of right-turn flashing arrows for eastbound vehicles on West 11th Street and westbound vehicles on KY 408/East 12th Street.

Traffic movements at these locations are restricted to a right-turn only due to one-way traffic on U.S. 641 and one-way traffic on the segments of 11th Street and 12th Street on each side of the Marshall County Court House.  When these movements have a green light, it conflicts with pedestrian traffic in the crosswalks.  KYTC personnel are adding a flashing yellow arrow to remind motorists making a right turn to yield to pedestrians.  The arrow also makes it clear that a right turn is required.

At this time, KYTC District 1 traffic engineers believe this is the only location in Kentucky where a required right-turn conflicts with pedestrian crosswalk traffic.

A signal crew will be working in the intersection from about 8:30 a.m., to about Noon on Tuesday, to complete the transition to new signal heads.  During this time the intersection will function as a temporary ALL-WAY STOP.

Once the new flashing yellow arrows are activated, the arrows will alert motorists to watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk.  Motorists should also be aware of changes in traffic flow this may create for eastbound traffic on West 11th Street and westbound traffic on KY 408/East 12th Street.