Project Details
July 13, 2009 Phase I of Industrial Road reconstruction is complete. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge a several people who have worked to bring about this project. First, Ken Schmidt and the Northern Kentucky Industrial Association, Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore and former Kenton Judge Executive Dick Murgatroyd who along with Florence Mayor Diane Whalen, Elsmere Mayor Bill Bradford and Independence Mayor Chris Marconi. These individuals helped in organizing the initial effort, which brought attention to the need for Industrial Road improvements by recognizing the significant impact the industries in and around this road had on the economy of Kentucky and particularly Northern Kentucky.
Additionally, Boone County and Kenton County staff, namely Jim Parsons, Jeff Earlywine, Scott Kimmich and Greg Sketch who were involved in much of the planning and gratitude to United States Senator Jim Bunning who secured $10,000,000, which help move this project forward. The Kentucky Department of Transportation who provided engineering and oversight, which successfully brought this project to completion, while still maintaining traffic flow.
Finally, special thanks to Nancy Wood from the Northern Kentucky District Six Highway Transportation office. Nancy patiently listened and provided answers to concerns of the people using Industrial Road each day.
To all of you, thanks so much for recognizing a need and providing a solution. June 2, 2009
Phase I - The contractor is currently finishing up the asphalt base with the final surface to follow shortly thereafter (as soon as the remaining utility boxes are raised and the last signal loops are installed). Based upon the remaining working days, the project should be complete by mid-July. Phase II – Recently the letting schedule was updated. Utilities yet to be relocated and we have the construction letting date penciled in Spring 2010. This is our best guess at this time. It is subject to change but this is what we are currently working toward. March 13, 2009
The Kentucky Senate has also approved the transporation construction bill which contains 8.2 million dollars to re-construct the portion of Industrial Road from US 25 to Turkeyfoot Road. Last week the Kentucky House of Representatives passed the transportation construction bill. Contained in that bill is 8.2 million dollars for Phase II of the Industrial Road project. Phase II is the widening of Industrial Road from US 25 to Turkeyfoot Road. The engineering and right of ways for Phase II have been completed.
January 12, 2009
Resumption of paving/construction should be in April due to weather conditions
November 20, 2008 Kentucky Drive WidthThe section of Kentucky Dr. is as wide as before construction began. The problem is that with the addition of the curb and gutter, there is a small gap to be filled in with asphalt next to the gutter edge. The width of the road does not get narrow where it meets the existing section of the road, but will widen out to form three lanes. It appears to be narrow due to matching up a curb and gutter with a rolling curb on the existing road section.
November 20, 2008 Traffic Light at the Intersection of US 42 and Industrial Road The project engineer has been working w/ Traffic to adjust the timing of the lights as needed. They will continue to monitor and make the appropriate adjustments. KDOT is also working on getting the permanent signs installed for lanes to use turning from Industrial onto US 42 for I-75 North and I-75 South. Arrows are marked on the lanes themselves, but they can understand that those can be difficult to see if traffic is backed up.
November 12, 2008
Ø The railroad crossing is completed.Ø All sidewalks and bike paths should be completed this year Ø The road is completed up to the last base course and surface Ø The base may be completed this year depending on weather Ø The surface will be done next springØ Grass is being put down along the finished sidewalks and bike paths Ø Business Entrances: The entrances would definitely have base course asphalt put down this year. The surface will probably be done next spring Phase I of Industrial Road Reconstruction
• Widening and reconstruction of Industrial Road (KY 1829) from US 42 to US 25 to five lanes
• Construction of sidewalk/bike paths with curb and gutter along Industrial Road
• Increase stacking lanes and turning radii for roads, which intersect Industrial
• Widening of turns for Empire Drive and Kentucky Drive
• Bus pull over sections
Phase II of Industrial Road Reconstruction
• Widening and reconstruction of Industrial Road from US 25 to Turkeyfoot Road (KY 1303) three lanes
• The engineering design, utility re-location and land acquisition is completed
• The reconstruction of the Industrial Road / Turkeyfoot intersection is a part of the Turkeyfoot Road project which is nearing completion
US 42 to I-75 Widening
• Addition of one lane from Industrial Road onto US 42 and the I-75 entrance ramp
• Bids to be opened September 28, 2007 (Separate project from Industrial Road Reconstruction)
THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO LAWRENCE CONSTRUCTION WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO BEGIN THE SPRING OF 2008
- Lawrence Construction, the same contractor awarded the Industrial Road project, was awarded the contract to add the additional lane to westbound US 42 between Industrial Road and I-75.
- Lawrence Construction anticipates starting work on the additional US 42 lane around March 3rd, 2008 with the installation of staking and erosion control measures.
- Construction is expected to begin on March 10th, 2008 with completion projected to occur around May 5th, 2008.
- Lawrence Construction is required to maintain two lanes of traffic on westbound US 42 at all times during the construction process during non-working hours. Additional lane closures are possible while work is ongoing. The road will NOT be closed during any part of construction. There will always be a minimum of one lane open each direction on US 42. At times when the contractor is not working, two lanes of traffic will be maintained on west bound US 42.
- The eastbound US 42 left turn lane onto King Drive will be closed for a significant portion of the project.
- Lawrence Construction intends to work on the additional US 42 lane and the Industrial Road project at the US 42 intersection at the same time to try to complete the intersection work and the work with the additional lane on US 42 at about the same time.
- During the construction process in these two areas the public will likely experience traffic delays.
- The addition of the westbound US 42 lane will also require modification of the US 42/Dream Street intersection.
- A water main will be relocated during the construction of the additional US 42 westbound lane which could cause some water outages in the vicinity of Dream Street. Lawrence Construction will provide advanced notice before proceeding with a planned water outage.
- Some lane closures on eastbound US 42 are expected to occur during the construction on Industrial Road.
Cost
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has estimated the construction cost for Phase I, from US42 to US 25, of a five-lane road with curb, gutter and sidewalks at $12.4 million.
Money Pledged for this Construction Project
U.S. Senator Jim Bunning secured ten million dollars in federal funds for the reconstruction of Industrial Road. The local governments of Boone County, City of Florence, Kenton County, City of Elsmere and City of Independence contributed two million dollars and the KYTC has contributed over four million dollars to the project.
Northern Kentucky Industrial Park
The Northern Kentucky Industrial Park and adjacent properties are located in the counties of Boone and Kenton as well as the cities of Florence, Independence and Elsmere. The boundaries for the Industrial Park and the adjacent industries are U S 42 to the north, Mt. Zion Road to the south, and Turkeyfoot Road to the east and I-75 to the west.
The Northern Kentucky Industrial Park and the adjacent industries consist of approximately 200 companies that have a capital investment in excess $500,000,000 with 13 million square feet of buildings. There are approximately 14,000 employees with an annual payroll of approximately $405,000,000. The main artery for these companies is Industrial Road, which is 2.95 miles in length. This road connects with US 42, US 25, and the newly constructed Turkeyfoot Road.
Industrial Road has not had significant improvement since the initial construction in 1960 and 1961. According to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s statistics, there are over 14,000 vehicles per day using Industrial Road. This stretch of highway has a relatively high rate of accidents according to statistics compiled by the Florence and Independence police departments. In addition to the volume of traffic, there have been safety concerns associated with Industrial Road.
Industries have reported continual traffic delays resulting from Industrial Road, which adversely affect their businesses. Whether in private vehicles or on public transportation, delays of fifteen to twenty minutes are common throughout the day. Turning radii for intersecting roads were constructed when the length of tractor-trailers was forty feet. With the fifty-three foot length of tractor-trailers today, trucks have great difficulty negotiating turns.