Bicycle Lanes along major roadways in Kentucky

Sun January 26 2003
Posted Jan 26, 2003
9,248

[BIKEIOWA note: If Kentucky can do it, so can we! - get organized] By CHUCK STINNETT, Gleaner staff January 9, 2003 The first bicycle lanes along a roadway in Henderson are part of the plans for widening U.S. 60-West to five lanes at the western edge of the city. The Kentucky Department of Highways intends to place five-foot-wide bike lanes on either side of the roadway, state Chief District Highway Engineer Ted Merryman said Wednesday. That's in addition to curbs and sidewalks on each side of the road, similar to what has previously been done on Zion Road and U.S. 60-East widening projects. The project extends from the South Y to the Kentucky 425 South Bypass, a distance of 1.7 miles. The bicycle lanes were requested by the city of Henderson and the Evansville Urban Transportation Study (EUTS), Merryman said. "We're in the process of developing a bicycle-pedestrian plan for the city of Henderson," EUTS Executive Director Rose Zigenfus said. "During the committee process, some comments were made by people who want to bicycle out to the (community) college and the Henderson sloughs wildlife management area. "We thought, why not ask the (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the parent agency for the Highway Department) for bicycle facilities in the design," she said. Then-mayor Joan Hoffman wrote the Highway Department last March, requesting consideration of the bike lanes, City Manager Jeff Broughton said. The U.S. 60-West rebuilding -- which passes through an industrial area that includes the Southside Industrial Park, Gibbs Die Casting, Atlantis Plastics, Service Tool and Die , Service Tool and Plastics and the Dana plant -- is intended to relieve traffic congestion. Plans call for two eastbound lanes, two westbound lanes and a 14-foot-wide center turning lane. The cost of right-of-way, utility relocation and roadway reconstruction is estimated at $16.6 million. The roadway is crowded not only with factories but also commerical businesses and some residences. While the state already owns most of the right-of-way it needs, it must buy some some additional property and lease some construction or drainage easements. At last count, 42 parcels would be affected, Merryman said. A public meeting is scheduled to discuss right-of-way matters with property owners. "We'll be able to tell people whether we need five feet or 10 feet" of their property, either permanently or during construction, he said. The meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, will run from 5 to 8 p.m. in the South Junior High gymnasium at 800 S. Alves St. To minimize the impact of the bike paths on property owners, the state plans for the eastbound and westbound driving lanes to be 11 feet wide rather than the standard 12 feet, Merryman said. "There are many 11-foot lanes on four-lane roads in Henderson and Evansville," Zigenfus said. "That's not unusual." Broughton agreed. "Eleven-foot-wide travel lanes will certainly be satisfactory," the city manager said. The Highway Department intends to begin acquring right-of-way and easements following the public meeting. Relocation of utility lines is scheduled to begin in 2004. Construction bids are tentatively scheduled to be let, or opened, in August 2004. "Everything is going to have to click" to meet that date, Merryman said. "If there is a snag, such as in utility relocation, we might have to move the letting date back." If all goes well, construction work could begin as early as fall 2004. Otherwise, a 2005 start date is expected. Construction will likely take two years. http://www.myinky.com/ecp/gleaner_news/article/0,1626,ECP_4476_1661093,00.html