Transportation

KYTC to close KY 1748 starting Dec. 18 for bridge repairs

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Friday, December 14th, 2012, 1:49pm

KYTC to close KY 1748 starting Dec. 18 for bridge repairs

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close KY 1748 in the Pryorsburg area of Graves County starting on Tuesday, December 18.

This closure at KY 1748 mile point 3.855 is to allow substructure repairs to the Obion Creek Branch Bridge. This is on KY 1748 between Bostick Lane and Calhoun Street about a mile southeast of US 45.

According to KYTC, a crane needed for the work will require KY 1748 to be closed around the clock starting at 8 a.m., on Tuesday and remain closed until about 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21.

Transportation engineers are asking any agencies who may have underground utilities near the bridge to contact the KYTC District One office in Paducah.

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'Operation R.A.I.D.' scheduled for I-24 Nov. 21-23

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012, 11:57am

'Operation R.A.I.D.' scheduled for I-24 Nov. 21-23

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - The Kentucky State Police and Paducah Police Department will team up for heavy saturation patrols on I-24, inside McCracken County on Wednesday, November 21 and Friday, November 23.

This special detail is part of a new enforcement campaign by the Kentucky State Police, entitled “Operation R.A.I.D.” (Remove Aggressive, Impaired and Distracted Drivers from Kentucky Roadways). Police say this campaign is running for six months and will end on Tuesday, April 30.

This time of year is typically when more travelers take to the roadways due to the holiday seasons. With this in mind, there are greater chances of encountering persons exhibiting these types of driving behaviors. This high visibility campaign will focus enforcement efforts toward aggressive, impaired and distracted driving behavior, in order to save lives by reducing the number of fatal and incapacitating crashes, across the Commonwealth.

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Lane extension near Mayfield expected to ease traffic bottleneck

Submitted by James Long, Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012, 2:08pm

Lane extension near Mayfield expected to ease traffic bottleneck

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - Contractors for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are working on adding lanes to a western Kentucky road in hopes of reducing traffic congestion.

According to KYTC Spokesperson Keith Todd, the work is to widen a portion of U.S. 45 to four lanes in Graves County is expected to remedy a chronic bottleneck for traffic at the north edge of Mayfield.

The project area is a half-mile section of U.S. 45/Paducah Road from Oak Grove Creek at mile point 18.368 to the Julian M. Carroll Purchase Parkway near the 19 mile marker. When completed, U.S. 45 will be four lanes from downtown Mayfield to the parkway.

Todd says the contractor has started construction of retaining walls that are a part of the project. However, the contractor is waiting for utilities to be moved out of the work zone before additional construction activities can start.

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New bridge to restore connection at Graves, McCracken Co. line

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, November 5th, 2012, 4:17pm

New bridge to restore connection at Graves, McCracken Co. line

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says a new bridge on KY 1241, which crosses Mayfield Creek in the Leeder Bottom area of Graves County, is expected to open for traffic Friday, November 9.

KY 1241 (Old U.S. 45) has been closed at the site since April 26, 2011, when bridge inspectors found a pier had dropped several inches during heavy spring flooding. Engineers originally hoped to repair the aging bridge, which was built in 1927, but motorists continued to drive around barricades to cross the structure. Continued use of the weakened structure contributed to its eventual collapse on June 26, 2011. The old bridge was removed, and work on a new bridge started June 11.

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'Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign results in over 1,000 citations

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012, 10:42am

'Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign results in over 1,000 citations

(KFVS) - This year’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement effort, coordinated by the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, resulted in 1,636 citations for drunken driving.

The annual, federally funded campaign, supported by more than 200 state and local law enforcement agencies, was held Aug. 17 through Sept. 3.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the campaign’s main objective was to keep drunken drivers off the road. In the process, officers at 594 traffic safety checkpoints throughout the Commonwealth also made 1,485 felony arrests and 1,303 drug arrests. They recovered 1,076 stolen vehicles, apprehended 1,984 fugitives and issued 15,239 seat belt citations and 1,313 child restraint citations. They also cited 10,911 drivers for speeding, 1,520 for reckless driving and 16,825 people for having no proof of automobile insurance or driving on a suspended license.

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KSP: Driver dead after garbage truck runs off the road, hits culvert

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, October 22nd, 2012, 2:42pm

KSP: Driver dead after garbage truck runs off the road, hits culvert

GRAVES COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - Kentucky State Police is investigating a deadly, single car crash that happened on Monday, October 22 at about 6:30 a.m.

According to KSP, the crash happened on KY 849 west of U.S. 45.

The preliminary investigation shows that Joseph S. Lacewell, 36 of Paducah, was driving a 2009 Autocar garbage truck owned by CWI inc. Police say for an unknown reason, the truck ran off the right shoulder of the road, hitting a culvert before coming to a final stop. Police say the driver’s door was open and Lacewell was ejected from the truck.

Assistant Graves County Coroner Tony Sheridan pronounced Lacewell dead at the scene. According to police, Lacewell was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

KSP says the investigation is ongoing.

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KYTC: Remove campaign signs from state highway roadsides for fall mowing

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, October 15th, 2012, 2:00pm

KYTC: Remove campaign signs from state highway roadsides for fall mowing

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is urging political candidates and their supporters to remove all campaign signs from state highway roadsides while crews and contractors prepare to start their fall mowing cycle.

According to KYTC, all campaign signs and advertising signs will be removed from state rights of way ahead of mowing crews. Yard signs illegally placed along state highways create a safety hazard for the public and mowing crews. They also cost taxpayers in the time and effort required for highway personnel to remove them.

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