Construction Starting Soon on I-Move Kentucky

/in /by

Widening project to begin along I-71 corridor in Louisville and Oldham Counties                 

Initial construction work will begin next month around the I-71/I-265 interchange.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 6, 2020) – Contractors for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s I-Move Kentucky project will begin work next week along portions of the project corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties. Work will begin along I-71 between the I-265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) interchange and KY 329 (Crestwood/Pewee Valley exit).

Starting Monday, Feb. 10, crews will begin clearing areas along I-71 and the interchanges in preparation for construction. This clearing work will continue throughout the project area through the end of March.

Motorists should use caution when traveling in the project area. Crews will be working during daylight hours.

I-Move Kentucky is a major project that will improve safety and reduce congestion through a heavily traveled interstate corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties. It is the largest, single construction project in Kentucky since the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed in 2016.

The four-year project will add lane capacity and include upgrades at two, major interchanges where I-265 converges with I-71 and I-64.

“This project is making significant improvements through a busy corridor that is important to regional transportation,” said Chris Slone, KYTC’s project manager for I-Move Kentucky. “Each day, these interstates serve hundreds of thousands of travelers, including local drivers, freight haulers and visitors passing through the region.”

Four major sections

The I-Move Kentucky project includes four, major sections.

I-71/I-265 Interchange improvements: KYTC will create a collector-distributor lane on southbound I-71 to improve safety and ease ramp movements to and from I-265.

I-71 widening:  KYTC will widen I-71 to the center and add a 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction to create a total of six lanes between Interstate 265 and KY 329 (Crestwood/Pewee Valley exit).

I-265 widening: KYTC will widen I-265 to the center and add a 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction to create a total of six lanes between KY 155 (Taylorsville Road) and Interstate 71.

I-64/I-265 Interchange improvements: KYTC will reconstruct the I-64/I-265 interchange to improve safety and ease the flow of traffic through the interchange. The project includes areas on I-64 from Blankenbaker Parkway to English Station Road, and on I-265 from Pope Lick Road to the U.S. 60 interchange.

Construction is expected to begin on the I-71/I-265 Interchange improvements and portions of the I-71 widening in the coming months. The timetable for work in other sections of the project has not been determined.

The entire I-Move project is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Learn more about the project

Additional updates on I-Move Kentucky will be shared online and through the project’s social media channels:

Facebook: facebook.com/IMoveKY/

Twitter: twitter.com/IMoveKY

KYTC selects design-build team for I-Move project

/in , , , , /by

$180 million project to improve I-265, I-71 and I-64 will start this spring

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2019) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has selected a design-build team led by Hall Contracting and American Engineers Inc. to design and construct the I-Move Kentucky interstate project. The four-year, $180 million construction project includes improvements to I-265, I-71 and I-64 through a heavily traveled corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties.

I-Move Kentucky is the largest single construction project in Kentucky since the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed in 2016.

Hall Contracting will deliver the major project using a design-build approach that combines what had been four, individual projects near I-265, also known as the Gene Snyder Freeway. The Hall/AEI team will begin planning and pre-construction activities this fall, and some construction will start in early 2020.

The I-Move Kentucky project will add lane capacity and upgrade major interchanges to roadways that are important to the state’s transportation system and regional economic development. Employers of tens of thousands of workers, including Kroger Co., Ford Motor Co., and UPS Inc., rely on the corridor to move products throughout the state and region.

I-Move Kentucky includes four projects outlined as statewide priorities through KYTC’s data-driven Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT) initiative. SHIFT was developed by KYTC to compare capital improvement projects and prioritize transportation spending.

The I-Move projects include:

  • I-265 Widening: Ranked as the No. 1 SHIFT priority, this project will widen I-265 to the center and add a 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction, creating a total of six lanes between KY 155 (Taylorsville Road) and I-71.
  • I-71/I-265 Interchange Improvements: This project will create a collector-distributor lane on southbound I-71 to improve safety and ease ramp movements to and from I-265.
  • I-71 Widening: This project will widen I-71 and add a 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction to create a total of six lanes between I-265 and KY 329 (Crestwood/Pewee Valley exit).
  • I-64/I-265 Interchange Improvements: This project will reconstruct the I-64/I-265 interchange to improve safety and ease the flow of traffic through the interchange and includes areas on I-64 from Blankenbaker Parkway to English Station Road, and on I-265 from Pope Lick Road to the U.S. 60 interchange.

Construction timeline

Construction on the I-Move Kentucky project will begin in spring 2020. KYTC and the design-build team are developing detailed plans for the construction schedule, but no specific dates have been set to start work.

Construction will begin on the I-71/I-265 interchange improvements in early spring and be completed by the end of next year. Construction work is also expected to start in 2020 on portions of the I-71 widening. The I-265 widening and I-64/I-265 interchange improvements are expected to begin in 2021. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in late 2023.

About I-Move Kentucky

I-Move Kentucky is the state’s innovative approach to improving the safety, ease of travel and quality of life for travelers and businesses that frequently use I-265, I-71 and I-64. Using a four-projects-in-one approach, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is addressing some of Kentucky’s highest-priority transportation needs.

Additional updates on I-Move Kentucky will be shared on social media channels:
Facebook: facebook.com/IMoveKY
Twitter: twitter.com/imoveky

KYTC selects alternative for I-64/I-265 interchange reconstruction in Jefferson County

/in , /by

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 13, 2019) –The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announces selection of an alternative for reconstruction of the interchange between Interstate 64 and Interstate 265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) in Jefferson County.  Four alternatives were presented to the public earlier this year to address operations and safety concerns at this interchange.

Based upon traffic analysis, review of crash data and public input, the KYTC project team selected a partial turbine design with a braided ramp (Alternative 3B). This design addresses some of the short traffic weaving segments at the interchange by replacing two of the existing loop ramps with longer ramps that will pass under I-265. This alternate can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/I64atI265 .

Another advantage of this option is “braiding” of the two entrance ramps from I-64 onto I-265 North. The result will be improved lane assignments on I-265 North where these ramps merge to reduce the traffic weave between the I-64 and U.S. 60 interchanges.

“After a comprehensive safety analysis, including future traffic projections, the recommended alternative points to a reduction in crashes,” said Matt Bullock, chief district engineer for KYTC’s District 5 office in Louisville. “This proposed design will make interchange spacing safer and more efficient by improving some of the acceleration and deceleration lengths for traffic merging between the two interstates.”

Traffic flow through the interchange will also be enhanced by the addition of lane capacity on four high volume ramps.

The selected alternate has minimal right-of-way impacts and minor utility relocation.

Reconstruction of the I-64/I-265 interchange is part of KYTC’s recently announced I-Move Kentucky project. This $180 million design-build project will improve safety and reduce congestion through a heavily traveled interstate corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties. The work combines four priority projects into a single construction project to add lane capacity and upgrades at two, major interchanges on I-265, I-71 and I-64.

Design-build is an effective contracting approach to deliver projects faster and often at a lower cost than traditional design-bid-build projects. While the preliminary design work has been completed on these projects, the design-build process allows the contractor to propose alternate designs that operate as efficiently as the plans advertised by KYTC while still staying within the project budget.

Construction for I-Move Kentucky is scheduled to begin in 2020.

Overnight traffic delays on Interstate 265 in Jefferson County May 14-17

/in , /by

Louisville, KY (May 13, 2019) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists of overnight traffic delays this week on Interstate 265 (Gene Snyder Freeway) in Jefferson County. A consultant engineering firm will perform mobile scanning of the concrete bridge decks as part of design work for widening this interstate. Crews will use ground-penetrating radar on I-265 in both directions between Taylorsville Road and Interstate 71 (mile markers 23.1 to 34.7).

This analysis is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 – Friday, May 17 from 9 p.m. each evening until 5 a.m. the following morning. Equipment will travel at slower speeds of 45 MPH so motorists should expect some delays. Drivers will be able to pass the testing vehicles by using an adjacent lane.

Widening of I-265 is part of KYTC’s recently announced I-Move Kentucky project. This $180 million design-build project will improve safety and reduce congestion through a heavily traveled interstate corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties. The work combines four priority projects into a single construction project to add lane capacity and upgrades at two, major interchanges on I-265, I-71 and I-64.

Construction for I-Move Kentucky is scheduled to begin in 2020. For more information visit I-Move KY.

The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Visit goky.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. You can also get traffic information for the District 5 counties at facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5 and twitter.com/KYTCDistrict5 .

 

KYTC announces state’s second largest design-build project to improve I-265, I-71, I-64

/in , , , , /by

Best value contracting approach reduces construction time, minimizes traffic impacts, stretches dollars

Louisville, KY (April 26, 2019) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced plans today for a $180 million design-build project that will improve safety and reduce congestion through a heavily traveled interstate corridor in Jefferson and Oldham counties. It will be the largest, single construction project in Kentucky since the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed in 2016.

The four-year project, called I-Move Kentucky, will add lane capacity and include upgrades at two, major interchanges on Interstates 265, I-71 and I-64. Combining the priority projects into a single construction project and using a design-build approach will allow the Cabinet to make improvements more quickly and efficiently.

“I-Move Kentucky will improve safety and mobility on three major interstates that join together in eastern Jefferson County and will allow travelers and freight to move freely through the region,” KYTC Secretary Greg Thomas said. “These were among the most important projects identified during last year’s SHIFT prioritization. By tackling them together, we’re saving Kentucky taxpayers time and money.”

KYTC developed the data-driven Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT) approach to objectively compare capital improvement projects and prioritize transportation spending. Incorporating input from local transportation officials, SHIFT was used to outline transportation priorities for FY 2018-FY 2024 and serve as a guide for lawmakers to develop the state’s 2018 Highway Plan.

Four projects in one

The four projects included in I-Move Kentucky were identified as statewide priorities by SHIFT.

I-265 widening: This project was identified by SHIFT as Kentucky’s No. 1 transportation priority. KYTC will widen I-265 to the center and add one, 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction to create a total of six lanes between KY 155 (Taylorsville Road) and Interstate 71.

I-71/I-265 Interchange improvements: This project was identified by SHIFT as Kentucky’s No. 6 transportation priority. KYTC will create a collector-distributor lane on southbound I-71 to improve safety and ease ramp movements to and from I-265.

I-71 widening:  This project was identified by SHIFT as Kentucky’s No. 11 transportation priority. KYTC will widen I-71 to the center and add one, 12-foot lane of traffic in each direction to create a total of six lanes between Interstate 265 and KY 329 (Crestwood/Pewee Valley exit).

I-64/I-265 Interchange improvements: KYTC will reconstruct the I-64/I-265 interchange to improve safety and ease the flow of traffic through the interchange. The project includes areas on I-64 from Blankenbaker Parkway to English Station Road, and on I-265 from Pope Lick Road to the U.S. 60 interchange.

“Interstates drive Kentucky’s economy,” said Sen. Ernie Harris, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “These needed transportation improvements will move citizens and commerce faster and safer in this bustling region of the state where hundreds of thousands of people live, work and do businesses. I’m pleased that Kentucky is able to fast-track them through the I-Move Kentucky project.”

“This is a tremendous project – not just for those of us who use these interstates daily but also for citizens throughout the region and across the state,” said Rep. Jerry T. Miller, who represents Jefferson and Oldham counties. “These interstates support tens of thousands of jobs at manufacturing, distribution and logistics businesses that rely on them to move products through this vital freight corridor.”

Design-Build Best Value approach

To complete these projects more quickly and efficiently, KYTC will utilize a design-build approach similar to the construction method used for the Ohio River Bridges Project. Last year, the legislature passed HB 385 to provide KYTC with more flexibility in using the design-build approach for maximum efficiency. The Cabinet is also utilizing design-build for two projects in northern Kentucky.

Design-build is an effective contracting approach to deliver projects faster and often at lower cost than traditional design-bid-build projects. Because the project design and construction responsibilities are handled by a single project team instead of multiple project-specific teams, design-build also allows for improved coordination to limit traffic impacts during large, multi-phase construction projects.

KYTC has notified the construction industry that it is seeking teams to compete for the opportunity to build the I-Move Kentucky project, and a team will be selected this fall. The selection will be based on the “best value” provided by teams.

In addition to the four projects identified, KYTC will provide contractors with a list of other needs in the project corridor, and will evaluate teams’ ability to address these other needs as part of this project. Examples may include widening additional areas of the interstates or additional interstate ramp improvements.

Project timeline

Following the selection of a design-build team this fall, KYTC anticipates pre-construction work would begin late in 2019 and continue into next year. This work would include conducting additional engineering analysis and plan development.

Construction is expected to begin on the I-71/I-265 interchange improvements in early spring next year and be completed by the end of 2020. The timetable for other phases of the project will be determined once a design-build team is selected.

Construction is scheduled to last through 2023.