HODGENVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Farmers in LaRue County said a state highway project intended to improve safety is creating new challenges for the agricultural community by making it harder to move large farm equipment along one of the area's main corridors.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reconfiguring several miles of US 31E (Lincoln Farm Road) in Hodgenville from two travel lanes in each direction to one lane each way. In addition, a multi-use path separated by raised concrete curbs is also being finished. According to the agency, the road is "being reconfigured to help relieve congestion and reduce conflicts."
But local farmers said the concrete barriers initially narrowed the roadway enough to make transporting some of their equipment difficult or impossible.
"I was rather pissed at what was going on over there because I knew that we couldn't get equipment through there anymore," Peppers said.
Peppers farms multiple properties throughout LaRue County and other surrounding counties. Like many, Peppers regularly drives large equipment between farms using public roads.
A round hay baler squeezes through concrete barriers in a reconfigured lane on U.S. 31E in Hodgenville (Courtesy of Branden Peppers)
When the barriers were first completed, the width was just 14 feet, barely large enough to get a round baler through the corridor.
Peppers doesn't understand the need for a multi-use path, let alone the barriers.
"Wherever you want your little bike lane, put a rumble strip or something," he said.
State Rep. Ryan Bivens, R-Hodgenville, said he contacted KYTC engineers when he learned of the project. He said project officials told him he was left in the dark because the $690,000 work is funded with federal dollars.
Bivens farms, too, and understand the implications.
"There's so many unintended consequences that they have done with this," Bivens said.
Following complaints from farmers and local officials, crews widened the opening between the curbs to roughly 22 feet, according to Bivens.
"We're going to tear up equipment going through there, but it's not just about the farmers," Rep. Bivens said, pointing to other work the barriers will interrupt. "It's about the citizens of the county. The people that drive that road. You're dealing with garbage trucks and mailmen as well."
KYTC didn't respond to a request for comment for this story, including whether additional changes are planned.
The wider passage will allow Branden Peppers and other farmers to get most equipment through the corridor, but he said the largest machinery could still face problems.Â
His frustration extends beyond the barriers, too, arguing that cutting the lanes down will create issues for regular drivers who will now be stuck behind farm machinery without an open lane to pass.
"Common sense was not put into play in this deal,"Â Peppers said.
Work is scheduled to be complete before the upcoming school year begins.
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