Updated schedule includes closures in two phases
PADUCAH, Ky. (July 23, 2024) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has consolidated a series of planned closures along U.S. 60 West of Marion in Crittenden County to reduce the timeline for replacement of several culverts and cross drains along a 3-mile section of highway.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat says reducing the timeline and concentrating the disruption in travel into about four days will help to reduce the impact on emergency services.
“We recognize this will be a major inconvenience, as the detours available for these two sections of U.S. 60 are limited,” Poat said. “Rather than disrupting traffic on two weekends, we are combining this series of closures into what we think will be about four days. Our staff and the contractor will be working with county officials and local residents to maintain access to homes and businesses.”
The altered schedule will start promptly at 6 a.m., CDT, on Wednesday, July 31 and continue in two phases. The Phase One closure is at the 5 to 6 mile marker with the Phase Two closure at the 8 mile marker.
Phase One Closure
The initial work along U.S. 60 in the Moore Hill area between the KY 297 intersection and the KY 1668 intersection will start promptly at 6 a.m., on Wednesday, July 31. This closure includes work at 4 locations between the 5 and 6 mile marker. The contractor will phase work to maintain local access for property owners and provide access for emergency vehicles.
There will be no marked detour. Trucks traveling between Marion and Paducah should self-detour through Fredonia and Eddyville via U.S. 641, U.S. 62 and I-24.
Portable message boards will be placed at various locations along U.S. 60 to provide advance notice of the closure site. This closure is expected to be in place for about two days.
The following detours are suggested for passenger vehicles during Phase One.
U.S. 60 Westbound from Marion
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road), KY 135, KY 723, and KY 297.
U.S. 60 Eastbound from Salem
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via KY 297, KY 723, KY 135, and KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road).
Trucks should seek an appropriate state route based on size and weight. Truckers should be aware that while KY 2123 (Glendale Church Road) is appropriate for passenger vehicle traffic it has a 3-ton posted load limit.
Should work between the 5 and 6 mile marker be completed earlier than expected, KYTC District 1 will attempt to provide timely updates when the roadway is reopened at this worksite and work moved to the 8 mile marker for Phase Two of the closure.
Phase Two Closure
U.S. 60 will be closed near the 8-mile marker between KY 981 (Old Salem Road) and KY 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road) to allow the Crooked Creek Branch Culvert to be replaced. This closure is immediately east of Airport Road in the 1300 Block of U.S. 60 will start as soon as Phase One is completed.
U.S. 60 is expected to close at this site on Thursday or Friday. U.S. 60 is expected to reopen sometime on Saturday or Sunday, August 3 or 4.
Portable message boards have been placed in this area to alert motorists to the location of this extended closure of U.S. 60.
There will be no marked detour. Commercial trucks should seek an alternate route appropriate to the gross weight of the vehicle. Trucks traveling between Marion and Paducah should self-detour through Eddyville via U.S. 641, U.S. 62 and I-24.
Passenger vehicles may self-detour via the following 23-mile alternate route that adds about 30 minutes of travel time:
Eastbound U.S. 60
Turn left onto KY 1668 North (Crittenden Springs Road) to KY 135, then turn right onto KY 135 North (be alert for the one-lane bridge) to KY 91, then turn right onto KY 91 South to travel approximately 10 miles to reconnect to U.S. 60 in downtown Marion.
Westbound U.S. 60
Take KY 91 North from Marion about 10 miles to KY 135, turn left onto KY 135 South (be alert for the one-lane bridge), then turn left on KY 1668 to take KY 1668 South (Crittenden Springs Road) to return to U.S. 60 West of Marion.
The roadway at this site is expected to reopen on Saturday or Sunday. KYTC District 1 will attempt to provide timely notice when traffic flow is restored.
Starting on Monday, August 5, at 7 a.m., U.S. 60 will be restricted to one lane at this site with alternating flow controlled by flaggers to allow guardrail to be installed at the new culvert, as well as additional finish work.
Approximately 5,000 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60 in an average day.
