LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A large transportation study is underway aimed at improving a busy stretch of Preston Highway between Interstates 264 and 265. And this week, the public comment period begins to let city and state leaders know what area residents want out of the overhaul.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet scheduled a public meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the South Central Regional Library, at 7300 Jefferson Blvd. Representatives from KYTC and the project team will be in attendance to answer questions.
Dubbed the Preston Transportation Plan, the study by KYTC will identify short- and long-term highway safety and mobility enhancements for Preston Highway. But state leaders want feedback before the project gets started.
Right now, Preston is known as one of the most dangerous corridors in the city, running from downtown Louisville to the Bullitt County line with an average of 715 crashes each year, according to the city's study. Officials said there have been 13 fatalities and 33 serious injuries on Preston since 2021, citing Kentucky State Police.
"It's really about taking those design factors on the road and saying, 'How do we design the road for the speed that we want instead of setting the speed for the design of the road?'" said Tony Mattingly with the city's Office of Advanced Planning.
The state is looking at how to ease congestion and increase safety for drivers who use the 7-mile corridor the Watterson Expressway and the Gene Snyder Freeway.
Last year, after 18 months of public feedback, the city of Louisville finalized its own Preston Corridor Plan. The improvements to the corridor are in an effort to "decrease the number of severe and fatal crashes" on the roadway and "improve the number and availability of useful transportation options along the corridor," the city said. It also calls for a transformation of certain intersections, like Preston and Broadway, Preston and Eastern Parkway, and Preston at the Outer Loop.
A study conducted by city officials found nearly 50,000 residents live within a 10-minute walk of Preston Street, or Preston Highway, so the improvements would impact a large population.
"A lot of businesses online nowadays, you know, just the wave of the future," said Ryan Fields, I Deal Autos, General Manager. "But we do get a lot of just drive by traffic as well."
Fields is in favor of improvements but has concerns it could impact the dealership's business.
"If they can maybe limit the work to certain hours of the day that aren't as busy or maybe I don't know, maybe weekends," said Fields. "I don't know exactly how they're able to do that. But yeah, that would help."
"We want as many people to read the document as possible. ... so people can say, 'Yes, we think the plan is doing what we want it to do' or telling us where we can do better," Mattingly said.
Written surveys will be available at the meeting for the public to provide feedback directly to the project team. Comments regarding the plan will be accepted until Tuesday, June 18, 2024, and may be mailed to the KYTC District 5 Office at 8310 Westport Road, Louisville, KY, 40242.
An online survey will also be available following the public meeting.
Related Stories:
- Kentucky transportation officials seek public input to improve 7-mile stretch of Preston Highway
- City of Louisville hopes to transform 'dangerous' 13-mile Preston Highway corridor
- City officials ask for input on draft plan for Preston Highway improvement project
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