SALYERSVILLE,
Ky. (Nov. 24,
2015) – Road crews are continuing to move forward with major road
construction west of Salyersville, and their progress will allow motorists to
drive on the first new roadway from the Mountain Parkway Expansion beginning
this week.
A traffic
switch is scheduled to take place Wednesday morning between mile points 70 and
71, which will shift both eastbound and westbound traffic from the existing
road to what will become eastbound lanes of the expanded Mountain Parkway.
Traffic will
be restricted to one lane from 8 a.m. until sundown, due to paving, and both
lanes may be stopped intermittently throughout the day for short periods of
time.
“Our crews
are working day and night to advance progress in the expansion of Mountain
Parkway,” said Marshall Carrier, a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineer who
is the project manager. “This is a significant milestone as drivers can begin
to use portions of a road that will improve transportation in Eastern
Kentucky.”
The new
traffic pattern – near the Gifford Road intersection in Magoffin County – will
be in place for at least six months. The project schedule depends on weather
during the winter season, when crews will complete work on the westbound lanes
for this portion of Mountain Parkway. Following completion of the westbound
lanes, the Mountain Parkway in this section will be expanded to provide
four-lane access.
Construction
work is ongoing along a nearly six-mile stretch of the Mountain Parkway,
between mile points 69 and 75. Motorists should prepare to slow to speeds
of 45 miles per hour in this area during the construction phase.
Last month,
workers began placing nearly 850 tons of concrete beams to create a new bridge
that will carry Gifford Road across the Mountain Parkway. The bridge is expected
to be completed sometime next year. The interchange at Gifford Road, which will
provide access to an industrial park planned just to the north, is scheduled to
open to traffic in early 2017.
