Morehead officials are sharing their goals of making Morehead a more walkable and community-oriented city. In 2022, the Kentucky Department of Transportation adopted the Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual, which focuses on creating more holistic infrastructure. Morehead has been offered $22,000 by KYTC to make changes to roads frequently traveled by pedestrians.
Edna Schack is a Council Member for the City of Morehead. She said focus will be placed on a few areas.
“For our particular installation, we’re looking at three contiguous areas. The Battson-Oates, Main, and Bridge Street intersection, Bridge Street itself, and the U.S. 60 and bridge street intersection,” said Schack.
The pedestrian only area adjacent to Battson-Oates will be expanded, narrowing the road and shortening the crosswalk between Sawstone and Fat Patty’s. A shared loading zone will be added for businesses surrounding the intersection. Schack said this initiative has allowed the opportunity to make travel safer for everyone in town.
“Do you know that 12% of the households in the city of Morehead do not have access to a vehicle? Wow! So, we really need to be thinking about walkers and bicyclists and others. It’s been a real opportunity for us,” said Schack.
Changes include adjusting the timing of crosswalk signs at the intersection of U.S 60 and Bridge Street and painting new walkways with varying paint surfaces, connecting city park to Battson-Oates Commons. Data will be collected before and after the proposed alterations are made. The changes should be in place by early July.