LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- People who live near Bardstown Road told WDRB the traffic there makes every day a test of patience. Now, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is looking for answers and feedback.
KYTC held a public input meeting Thursday at Bates Elementary School to discuss potential improvements to the area.
The meeting was to discuss the stretch from the Bullitt County line to Beulah Church Road in Jefferson County. Traffic can get bad on the roadway during rush hour. The stretch includes the Gene Snyder interchange, which is another headache for many drivers.
Safety is also an issue KYTC is considering. From 2018 to 2023, there were more than 1,000 crashes on that stretch of road.
Input from the first public meeting was held on June 25 and was compiled to develop a range of possible highway improvement concepts.
The space was lined with easels displaying artist renderings and design concepts for what the future of Bardstown Road could look like.
Residents say the underlying issue is the rapid growth of the area.
State Representative Kevin Bratcher, who was recently elected to the Metro Council, voiced his frustration at the meeting.
"It’s horrible during rush hour—golly, even during rush hour," he said. "And Saturdays and Sundays, you can’t hardly move out here. It’s a parking lot, and it’s something we have to look at."
Fern Valley resident Sandra Burnett shares that same frustration. She moved to the area to be closer to family, but she says the constant traffic gridlock has become unbearable.
"Get the stop lights in sync," Burnett said. "The stop lights are from the 1970s. The man who’s in charge of them told me that two years ago."
Despite Burnett's efforts over the years to address the issue with KYTC, she feels little progress has been made.
“They have been planning, and they have concepts, and they have done studies, and they are doing analysis, and we are not having any kind of answers,” she said.
At the public meeting, Burnett explained that this was the fourth such meeting she's attended, with little to show for it.
“We’re still looking for answers,” she said. “We need something to be done, and we need it done soon.”
KYTC has outlined plans to address the situation along Bardstown Road. The proposed project aims to improve 10 key intersections along the busy route. In addition to reducing traffic congestion, the proposal includes creating safer spaces for pedestrians, which would involve building new sidewalks and bike paths.
However, the number one concern remains clear: traffic. And while there are plans in the works, the project is not expected to break ground anytime soon. Morgan Woodrum, public information officer for KYTC District 5, explained the current phase of the project.
"We really value feedback from the community that helps our team develop concepts," Woodrum said. "So we're at the phase right now where our team has developed concepts, but moving forward, that will help us choose the option to move forward with for an improvement project."
Despite KYTC’s emphasis on community involvement and feedback, some locals are losing patience.
“There’s been no real action,” Burnett said. “We keep hearing about studies and concepts, but when will something actually happen?”
The urgency of the situation was underscored by a tragic incident just two weeks ago. A woman was killed when her car was struck by a speeding vehicle. The car, allegedly involved in drag racing, was clocked going 120 miles per hour. While the current plans for Bardstown Road do not specifically address speeding or drag racing, they do focus on safety improvements.
The incident has further highlighted the need for action, especially as more cars continue to flood Bardstown Road daily. While the proposed changes may not stop dangerous drivers, they could help create a safer environment for the rest of the community.
As Bardstown Road continues to serve as a vital artery for Louisville’s growing population, the KYTC’s project remains in the planning stages. It’s clear that the road needs improvements, and residents are anxiously waiting for real solutions.
To see the study overview along with maps of the area, click here.
Related stories:
- Kentucky transportation officials seek public input to improve 7-mile stretch of Preston Highway
- KYTC looking for safe solutions to crashes in Louisville's Taylor Boulevard-New Cut Road Corridor
- New speed humps in Louisville's Newburg neighborhood making a 'big difference'
- New study ranks the 53 most dangerous stretches of roadway in Louisville
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