By GINA KINSLOW
Although it may not be easy to tell, work to transform Trojan Trail from two-lanes to three has already begun.
The purchase of rights-of-way along the street is being done, said Steve Russell, facilities director for Barren County schools.
Russell spoke with Larry Glass Jr., contractor for the project, earlier this week and learned that clearing land for the project, which not only calls for widening the road to three lanes but also the addition of turning lanes, is expected to begin in either January or February.
The road is being widened to alleviate traffic congestion at peak times, such as at the start of school in the mornings or in the afternoons when classes are being dismissed.
“In the afternoons, for about 15 minutes, sometimes traffic stops on Trojan Trail going into the middle school,” said Bud Tarry, transportation director for Barren County schools.
Sometimes school buses are caught in the traffic jam and are late getting to the schools to either drop off or pick up students.
When that does happen, Tarry said, bus drivers are instructed to call in on walkie talkies to alert him they are stuck in traffic.
“Sometimes it’s several minutes before they can actually make it to the middle school,” he said.
The city of Glasgow received state money to widen the road to three lanes.
“Some of us wanted to see a four-lane road,” said Mayor Darrell Pickett. “Right now that’s not a reality. The money we’re getting is all we can get to add those additional lanes to Trojan Trail.
“With the new call center coming into that area and Western, it’s going to be a heavy increase in traffic.”
The city has already received $650,000 for the project and was scheduled to receive an additional $2 million after the start of the 2007-08 fiscal year that began July 1.
With the addition of the call center, Russell estimates there will be an extra 500 vehicles traveling the road. If the road isn’t widened before construction of the call center is completed, he said, traffic could come to a complete standstill during peak travel times.
“We would need several officers up there to help direct traffic to keep it moving,” he said. “If it is completed on time, it should help us tremendously.
“If it’s not completed on time, we’re looking at some serious traffic problems.”
