Northbound lanes of new Ky. 1247 open

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November 5, 2009

By BILL MARDIS, Editor Emeritus The Commonwealth Journal Thu Nov 05, 2009, 05:45 PM EST

Somerset — Two-way traffic was scheduled to be allowed late yesterday on two northbound lanes of scenic new Ky. 1247 between southeastern bypass (Ky. 914) and northern Burnside. Flashing message boards in all directions announce the opening, and barricades were scheduled to be moved as soon as striping was completed.

“Only two lanes –– one lane north and one lane south –– will open today (Thursday),” said Bill Chaney, manager of the project for Kentucky Department of Highways’ District 8. Despite earlier speculation that all four lanes will open before the current construction season ends, Chaney said yesterday that rainy weather in October delayed construction. He expressed doubt the southbound two lanes will open until sometime next spring.

“Unless the rains hold off and the weather stays warm enough to apply blacktop, we may not get the two southbound lanes open this fall,” Chaney said.

New Ky. 1247 extends from Ky. 914 (southeastern bypass) at Murphy Avenue Extension to near the recently opened interchange of U.S. 27 and Ky. 90 in northern Burnside. The new road replaces an existing narrow, crooked Ky. 1247 that dips sharply to Pitman Creek south of Elihu; climbs upward through Cedar Grove; then north of John Sherman Cooper Power Station to U.S. 27 in northern Burnside.

An 85-foot-tall span over Pitman Creek is the scenic highlight of the just under four miles of new road. Old Ky. 1247 remains open for local traffic, Chaney said.

The only lighted traffic signals will be at the northern end at Ky. 914. At the southern end, traffic will move onto ramps of the partial cloverleaf interchange leading onto U.S. 27 and Ky. 90.

Hinkle Contracting Corporation, of Somerset and Paris, is building new Ky. 1247 for $22,609,000. Construction began June 22, 2007.

“Safety is our main concern,” said Stephanie Daffron, public information officer for the Kentucky Department of Highways’ District 8. She expressed hope that motorists on the newly opened highway will carefully observe traffic messages and signs.

Caution is necessary at crossroads leading onto Ky. 1247 because construction is continuing on the two southbound lanes. Traffic on roads approaching and crossing new Ky. 1247 will stop, Daffron noted.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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