New traffic signals to be activated in September

By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus

Inactive traffic signals recently installed above Cumberland Parkway a little more than two miles west of Somerset are at a to-be-constructed grade-level intersection with the southwestern bypass. The new traffic lights will be activated about September when the northern end of the southwestern bypass and the western section of the northern bypass (I-66) are completed, according to Bill Chaney, District 8 project engineer.

About a half-mile section of Cumberland Parkway from west of the southwestern bypass intersection to Fishing Creek will be “abandoned” by the Transportation Cabinet when the southwestern and northern bypasses open.

City and county officials earlier expressed concern about closing a section of what is now the main route from the west into Somerset. However, nobody at this point has come up with a plan or money to construct an interchange at Fishing Creek to funnel traffic off the new route of Cumberland Parkway onto the to-be-abandoned section. Grade differences apparently make the project financially un-feasible.

The eastern end of Cumberland Parkway, designated route of Interstate 66, is currently under construction. The new section will veer slightly northeastward from Fishing Creek to the already constructed I-66 interchange with four-lane U.S. 27 about two miles north of Somerset.

Motorists from Nancy and the western part of the county who commute daily to Somerset on the Cumberland Parkway were disturbed about the planned closure of a half-mile section of existing Cumberland Parkway. They envisioned lost time by following a realigned Cumberland Parkway to the U.S. 27 interchange and then driving two miles south along four-lane U.S. 27 to Somerset.

However, Chaney said this won’t be necessary. Motorists from the west headed to Somerset will simply take a ramp off Cumberland Parkway (northern bypass) at the southwestern bypass interchange and travel about 2,000 feet along southwestern bypass to a signaled intersection at the existing Cumberland Parkway (where the new inactive traffic lights were recently installed). The section of Cumberland Parkway from just west of Hacker Road underpass east to Somerset will remain open, same as always.

Noting options with the new highway config-uration, Chaney pointed out that motorists taking the ramp off the new Cumberland Parkway (northern bypass) onto the southwestern bypass may turn east along the existing Cumberland Parkway to U.S. 27 at Ky. 80 bypass (traffic light No. 3). Also, they may continue south along the southwestern bypass and exit on old Ky. 80 at Saline and travel east to traffic light No. 4 at the Ky. 80 intersection with U.S. 27; or exit at Oak Hill Road and travel east to U.S. 27 at Oak Hill Plaza; or exit at Slate Branch Road and travel east to U.S. 27 (at Burger King south); or follow the southwestern bypass to U.S. 27 at Beacon Hill Baptist Church where south-western bypass joins the southeastern bypass. Both are designated Ky. 914.

Cumberland Parkway is the designated route for I-66, a proposed interstate highway from northern Virginia to California. The northern bypass of Somerset is a part of the proposed interstate and one of the few places in the nation where it is under construction.

“The northern bypass was driven to facilitate I-66,” said Chaney. As with most interstate highways, it avoids heavier traffic in northern Somerset near the U.S. 27 intersection with Ky. 80 bypass.

The new section of Cumberland Parkway is being constructed to interstate specifications. Exit ramps from Cumberland Parkway (I-66) onto the southwestern bypass and into Somerset will have normal interstate signage. In other words, it will be a Somerset exit. A second Somerset exit will be at the I-66 interchange with U.S. 27 two miles north of the city.

Chaney said the half-mile section of existing Cumberland Parkway to be closed is part of the road “ ... that won’t go anywhere.” As aforesaid, the existing parkway from west of Hacker Road east to Somerset will remain open.

“People in a vehicle ... I don’t think they will notice the difference,” said Chaney. The ramp leading off Cumberland Parkway (northern bypass) onto the southwestern bypass is “free flowing ... there’s no traffic light.” said Chaney. The recently hung traffic signals at existing Cumberland Parkway will control traffic on the southwestern bypass and the parkway.

As far as driving is concerned, the realigned Cumberland Parkway as it evolves into the northern bypass will not be noticeable to motorists, Chaney said. The new road will gradually veer northeast toward the interchange with U.S. 27.

As construction money becomes available, the northern bypass, or I-66, will extend easterly from U.S. 27 to Ky. 39. Then, it will continue easterly to Ky. 80 about a mile and a quarter west of Ky. 461 at Barnesburg. The corridor for I-66 has been selected from Barnesburg through Shopville, Stab and Squid to I-75 at London just south of the weigh station. However, there currently is no construction money to build I-66 through the Daniel Boone National Forest to London.

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