Signals to be placed in flash mode for 90 days

PADUCAH, Ky. (July 26, 2024) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to place two traffic signals along U.S. 45-Business (Kentucky Avenue) in downtown Paducah in flash mode starting Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Signals along U.S. 45-Business (Kentucky Avenue) at 5th Street and U.S. 45-Business (Kentucky Avenue) at 6th Street will be placed in flash mode for 90 days to allow a traffic flow study to determine how the intersections will function without a signal.  KYTC traffic engineers will observe traffic at the intersections from time to time to determine how long vehicles on the side streets have to wait to access U.S. 45-Business.

The signals will flash yellow for caution along U.S. 45-Business and flash red to require stops for traffic on 5th Street and 6th Street.  This will allow east-west traffic on U.S. 45-Business (Kentucky Avenue) to flow freely, while north-south traffic on the side streets will have to stop at the intersection to wait for traffic to clear.

Motorists should be alert for changes in traffic flow the signal alterations will bring to these intersections.

A preliminary study found reduced traffic flow on the 5th Street and 6th Street legs of the intersections makes it likely the traffic signals can be removed without hampering safety or traffic flow.

At the end of the 90 day study, KYTC District 1 traffic engineers will evaluate findings to determine if the signals at these intersections should be removed. 

The traffic signals are along U.S. 45-Business at McCracken County mile point 1.875 and mile point 1.953.  Approximately 4,100 vehicles travel this section of Kentucky Avenue in an average day.