Closures at 5mm and 8mm planned in two phases
PADUCAH, Ky. (News First) – As a reminder, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans extended closures along U.S. 60 West of Marion in Crittenden County for what some residents are referring to as “The Big Dig Project.” The project includes two closures for replacement of several culverts and cross drains along a 3-mile section of highway kicking off promptly at 6 a.m., Wednesday, July 31.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat noted that by combining the series of closures into two phases the required work can be compressed into about four days. Both locations require an extended self-detour for commuters.
The Phase One closure is at the 5 to 6 mile marker with the Phase Two closure at the 8 mile marker.
Phase One Closure
The initial work along U.S. 60 in the Moore Hill area between the KY 297 intersection and the KY 1668 intersection will start promptly at 6 a.m., on Wednesday, July 31. This closure includes work at 4 locations between the 5 and 6 mile marker. The contractor will phase work to maintain local access for property owners and provide access for emergency vehicles.
There will be no marked detour. Trucks traveling between Marion and Paducah should self-detour through Fredonia and Eddyville via U.S. 641, U.S. 62 and I-24.
Portable message boards will be placed at various locations along U.S. 60 to provide advance notice of the closure site. This closure is expected to be in place for about two days.
The following detours are suggested for passenger vehicles during Phase One.
U.S. 60 Westbound from Marion
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road), KY 135, KY 723, and KY 297.
U.S. 60 Eastbound from Salem
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via KY 297, KY 723, KY 135, and KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road).
Trucks should seek an appropriate state route based on size and weight. Truckers should be aware that while KY 2123 (Glendale Church Road) is appropriate for passenger vehicle traffic it has a 3-ton posted load limit.
As soon as work between the 5 and 6 mile marker is completed, KYTC District 1 will provide notice when the roadway is reopening at the Phase One site and U.S. 60 is being closed at the 8 mile marker to start Phase Two.
Phase Two Closure
U.S. 60 will be closed near the 8-mile marker between KY 981 (Old Salem Road) and KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road) to allow the Crooked Creek Branch Culvert to be replaced. This closure is immediately east of Airport Road in the 1300 Block of U.S. 60. The roadway at this location will close soon as Phase One is completed.
U.S. 60 is expected to close at this site on Thursday or Friday. U.S. 60 is expected to reopen sometime on Saturday or Sunday, August 3 or 4.
Portable message boards have been placed in this area to alert motorists to the location of this extended closure of U.S. 60.
There will be no marked detour. Commercial trucks should seek an alternate route appropriate to the gross weight of the vehicle. Trucks traveling between Marion and Paducah should self-detour through Eddyville via U.S. 641, U.S. 62 and I-24.
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via the following 23-mile alternate route that adds about 30 minutes of travel time:
U.S. 60 Eastbound from Salem
Turn left onto KY 1668 North (Crittenden Springs Road) to KY 135, then turn right onto KY 135 North (be alert for the one-lane bridge) to KY 91, then turn right onto KY 91 South to travel approximately 10 miles to reconnect to U.S. 60 in downtown Marion.
U.S. 60 Westbound from Marion
Take KY 91 North from Marion about 10 miles to KY 135, turn left onto KY 135 South (be alert for the one-lane bridge), then turn left on KY 1668 to take KY 1668 South (Crittenden Springs Road) to return to U.S. 60 West of Marion.
The roadway at this site is expected to reopen on Saturday or Sunday, August 3 or 4.
KYTC District 1 will provide timely notice when installation of the new culvert is complete and traffic flow is restored at this site.
Starting on Monday, August 5, at 7 a.m., U.S. 60 will be restricted to one lane at this site with alternating flow controlled by flaggers to allow guardrail to be installed at the new culvert, as well as additional finish work.
Approximately 5,000 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60 in an average day.
Once these closures are completed, another closure will be schedule near the high school/middle school complex. However, that section of U.S. 60 has a more convenient detour route. Once that culvert is replaced, U.S. 60 will be paved from the KY 297 intersection to the All-Way Stop at U.S. 641 in Marion.
