Major Road Projects Awarded For Caldwell, Christian, Hopkins

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has accepted bids on several major projects in the agencies District 2 counties for the 2018 construction season, which is expected to ramp up in April. District 2 Chief Engineer Wade Clements says in a release during a time when tight budget numbers has slowed the progress of many projects, he's pleased to have some major projects ready to go for the 2018 construction season.

The projects that have been awarded to contract and are pending preconstruction meetings that would allow the contractor to start work in Christian and Hopkins counties include the Pennyrile Parkway Concrete Rehabilitation Project from about a mile north of KY 2642 Overpass started at milepoint 16.5 extending northward to near the U.S. 41 Ramp Overpass, a distance of 13.3 miles. The bid was awarded to Hall Contracting of KY Inc. for more than $43.2 million with a target completion date of August 31, 2019.

Other projects in Hopkins County include: The widening of US 41-A/Nebo Road from US 41/Main Street in Madisonville extending northward to Yorkwood Place, a distance of more than 1.5 miles, which was successfully bid to Road Builders of Greenville for more than $9.1 million dollars with a target completion date of October 1, 2020; And Asphalt Overlay on two sections on Interstate 69 from the Interchange of the Pennyrile and West Kentucky Parkways to the Mortons Gap Exit and from the Fowler Road Overpass extending northward to the Slaughters-Calhoun Exit Interchange. That contract was awarded to Scotty's Contracting and Stone, LLC with a successful bid of more $3.2 million and has a target completion date of September 1, 2018.

In Caldwell County, Rogers Group, LLC was awarded the successful bid of more than $3.7 million for the Asphalt Overlay and Rehabilitation of Interstate 69 from the Princeton-Marion Exit 79 Interchange extending southward to KY 293, a distance of 3.5 miles, with a completion date of August 1, 2018.

State transportation officials note perhaps the most anticipated project on the list is the widening of U.S. 41-A in Madisonville, which has been in design for ten years.

The largest of the projects, officials say is the $43.24 million rehab of the Pennyrile Parkway in northern Christian County and southern Hopkins County, which covers a section of the parkway that has created a number of ongoing roadway maintenance issues in recent years.

Officials indicate the 2018 construction season ramps up starting sometime in April. However, they add there is a possibility that some preliminary work could start earlier as winter weather allows.