LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's massive new VA hospital is transforming the area near Brownsboro Road and the Watterson Parkway.

LG&E and KU will be upgrading the electricity to meet the need. The project starts at Seminary Drive and ends at the Watterson.

Bill Elder has called Northfield off U.S. 42 home for more than a decade. He said the ongoing construction on Brownsboro Road was inevitable, ever since they announced the location of Louisville's new VA Hospital.

"It should have been an annex to the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. It isn't," Elder said.

The addition of the hospital has fueled a lot of growth in the area.

But many nearby residents have mixed feelings about the development and the infrastructure upgrades that come with it.

"It's progress. That's fine. They needed a new hospital. That's fine," Dave Williams, who lives near Ballard High School, said.

A brand new Thorntons opened this week after being rebuilt from scratch; and LG&E and KU crews are now building a new substation to add to the electricity running down US 42. It'll be the third substation in the area.

"I like to see the progress. It's time somebody spends on infrastructure around here," Williams said.

"Since they've gifted us with these gigantic polls, it would be really nice if they would decorate them somehow to make it less stark," Elder said.

LG&E's Chris Whelan said modifying the gas mains and the transmission and distribution lines will support the incoming VA Hospital, new high-rise housing developments, restaurants and businesses.

"They're gonna see enhanced reliability. It's going to help meet all the growing energy needs of that area," Whelan said.

Traffic continues to pile up, but she said the company does not expect any outages or road closures.

"Just trying to be mindful of our customers and certainly appreciate all their patience," Whelan said.

The goal is to serve the Brownsboro Road area well into the future.

"I hope things work out," Elder said.

LG&E hopes to finish construction here by the end of this year. If you have any concerns you can call LG&E and KU at 502-627-4287.

For more information about the project, click here.

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