Bypass widening project to start Wednesday
Published 6:00 am Monday, March 23, 2026
A project that will widen the U.S. 31-W Bypass to five lanes between the intersection with Ky. 234 (Fairview Avenue) and the intersection with Park Street is expected to begin Wednesday, a project the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has said will improve traffic flow in the area.
“We are ready to start construction, and as of right now, we believe that will start Wednesday night … ,” Wes Watt, public information officer for KYTC District 3, told the Daily News Thursday.
Recent counts from KYTC show that roughly 18,000 cars use this half-mile section of the Bypass every day.
Watt said previously that once completed, the widened Bypass will help alleviate traffic congestion that occurs now.
“It’s not going to solve all the problems in that area, but this is a major project that will have a major benefit to that corridor,” he said.
Lane restrictions on the Bypass will begin soon and are expected to last well into 2027. KYTC urges motorists to expect long-term traffic delays while the project is underway.
Two northbound lanes, two southbound lanes and a center turning lane will be in place on the Bypass along this section once work finishes.
Once finished, the left-turn lanes at the intersection with Fairview will be lengthened to increase capacity and two dedicated left-turn lanes will be provided in the southbound direction along with two straight through-lanes on both sides.
Scotty’s Contracting & Stone was awarded the $7.4 million contract for the project in January. with a completion date eyed for the fall of 2027.
KYTC spent the past couple years securing rights-of-ways along the corridor. Repositioning of utility lines along the roadway will happen simultaneously with construction.
Watt said utility work is a factor in the long timetable for the project.
” … (It’s) not necessarily because of the road construction,” he said. “It’s because of all the utilities that have to be moved and they’re being done at the same time.”
Entryways to businesses along the work area will be maintained during the whole project time. While work goes on, traffic will be reduced to one lane going north and one going south with a two-way left-turn lane in the center. At the intersection with Fairview, a single left-turn lane will be maintained.
About Jack Dobbs
Jack covers city government for the Daily News. Originally from Simpson County, he attended Western Kentucky University and graduated in 2022 with a degree in journalism.
More by Jack
