After a few days off following the severe winter weather that hit Eastern Kentucky late last month, crews returned to work last week along the Mountain Parkway, just west of Salyersville.
Clearing, drilling and blasting activities continue as construction crews expand a 1.4-mile corridor near mile point 70 to add an interchange at Gifford Road and widen the parkway to four lanes.
The speed limit in this area has been reduced to 45 mph.
Traffic on the parkway will continue to be stopped during blasts for the safety of workers and travelers, causing short delays.
Crews also plan to set up barrier walls early next week between the roadway and project area to protect the roadway from debris and speed cleanup activities.
The construction activities around the planned Gifford Road interchange are the first on the Mountain Parkway Expansion. Utility relocations around the KY 7/Salyersville interchange (Exit 75) have begun, and construction activities will begin soon in that area.
The Mountain Parkway Expansion is a 46-mile transportation improvement project that will create a wider, safer connection between Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the Commonwealth. The project will widen 30 miles of the existing parkway from two lanes to four lanes, and will extend the parkway another 16 miles by widening KY 114 between Salyersville and Prestonsburg.
For more information on the Mountain Parkway Expansion, visit: http://www.MtnParkway.com
(story provided by Mountain Parkway Expansion and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)
