By GINA KINSLOW
TOMPKINSVILLE — Work to reconstruct Ky. 163 in Monroe and Metcalfe counties will begin soon now that construction bids for the project have been awarded.
The bid was awarded to Scotty’s Contracting and Stone LLC of Bowling Green for $6.8 million, which was the lowest of seven bids submitted for the project. Other bids ranged from $8 to $10 million.
Work is expected to begin within 30 to 45 days, said Keirsten Jaggers, public information officer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Bowling Green office.
Sections of the road in both Monroe County and Metcalfe County will be improved.
“There are two sections of Ky. 163 (in Monroe County) in the road plan. The first section from just south of Bushong Road extends northerly to just south of Cyclone Road and is 4.81 miles in length,” she said. “The second section continues on from Cyclone Road and terminates to Ky. 90 and has a length of 3.61 miles. This is currently scheduled for letting in 2010. At this time, rights-of-way are still being purchased and all the utilities still have to be moved.”
The work will be done in two phases: grade and drain or earthwork and surfacing and paving.
The reason for the improvement is the increased amount of traffic.
“Over the years, highway improvements to the south in Tennessee and lower taxes have greatly increased the traffic flow through Monroe County, especially truck traffic,” Jaggers said. “Average daily traffic volumes for this section of Ky. 163 currently range from 3,577 between Ky. 2788 and Ky. 678 to 2,346 between Ky. 678 to Ky. 1520. Traffic counts closer to Tompkinsville are at roughly 5,500 (between Ky. 1049 and Orchard Lane).”
Local officials say both counties will benefit from the project.
“Hopefully, we will be able to attract more industry by having a good road in and out and just a safer route. It’s a safety issue as well as anything else,” said Monroe County Judge-Executive Wilbur Graves.
He pointed out that there have been several fatalities along the highway over the last few years, and said improvements to the road will only make it a safer route to travel.
Metcalfe County Judge-Executive Greg Wilson pointed out that the intersection of Ky. 90 and Ky. 163 has been a safety issue for quite some time, and that plans call for the relocation of the intersection.
“It is going to be moved down toward Kingsford because it’s a blind spot where the intersection is now,” he said. “We actually had a fatality there not too long ago.”
The project calls for spot improvements along the highway in Metcalfe County that will widen it in certain areas, which will also make it safer for motorists to travel.
“There is a big traffic count on Ky. 163,” Wilson said.
The state received stimulus dollars for several road projects. The relocation of Ky. 163 was one of the projects funded. However, only the actual construction of the road was funded by stimulus monies, Jaggers said. The amount of stimulus monies awarded for that particular phase of the project was around $6.8 million, she said.
