OAK GROVE, Ky. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has received approval for $1.25 million in federal funding for a Highway Safety Improvement Project (HSIP) along KY 115/Pembroke-Oak Grove Road between Interstate 24 and U.S. 41 in southeastern Christian County.
According to KYTC District 2 Chief Engineer Deneatra Henderson, the HSIP project is now in early design phase and could move to construction in 2019.
“The planned scope of work includes spot improvements at curves, roadway edge improvements, smoothing of pavement, extending the width of drainage structures, updated signage, guardrail upgrades and other safety enhancements,” Henderson said.
The project runs along KY 115 from mile point 3.15 at the I-24 exit 89 interchange extending north to mile point 9.92 at the south edge of Pembroke, a distance of about 6.7 miles.
The HSIP project approval is based on data gleaned from police crash reports. Over a five-year period there were a total of 84 collisions along this section of KY 115. Of those, there were three fatal and 20 injury crashes. More than 73 percent were single vehicle collisions, 16 percent were sideswipe collisions and 13 percent were wet-weather collisions. Several of the crashes involved intoxicated drivers.
Based on an extensive analysis of those crash reports, engineers developed a checklist of low-cost improvements aimed at enhancing safety. To extend the impact of the safety work, the federally funded safety project is being coordinated with a previously approved $730,000 state funded resurfacing project along 7.4 miles of KY 115 between Carneal Lane and U.S. 41.
There are several safety enhancement projects planned along highways in KYTC District 2 counties. Ongoing projects include realignment of the U.S. 62/KY 175 intersection in Muhlenberg County and improvements along U.S. 231 in southern Ohio County. Both of those projects are expected to be completed this fall.