By Brian Ray
The second part of a three-part road construction project will begin next Tuesday, Sept. 8, shutting down parts of Eastern Parkway, from the stoplights in front of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering to the ramps onto I-65.
“This will be a short-term headache with great long-term benefits,” said John Drees, University of Louisville spokesman. “We are trying to make this as painless as possible.”
A press release sent out by Andrea Clifford, Public Information Officer of the Department of Highways for the District of Louisville, explained these road projects are part of a $7.13 million contract from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to realign the ramps on Interstate 65 at Warnock Avenue, repair the Eastern Parkway bridge over the CSX Railroad and improve safety on Eastern Parkway near Third Street.
“I haven’t been affected by any of the construction or roadwork,” said Ashli Butler, a senior marketing major. “Traffic has always been bad and now it’s not any different.”
According to Clifford, the completion of the first part of the project, at the intersection of I-65 North and Warnock Avenue, will allow people to legally turn left off the exit.
The University of Louisville Web site states that the second phase of the project will involve the repair of the Eastern Parkway bridge.
“The Eastern Parkway bridge is one of the ten most structurally deficient bridges in the state of Kentucky and it will undergo substructure repair,” said Drees.
According to U of L’s Web site, the second phase road closures will include the Eastern Parkway bridge from Hahn Street to the traffic light at Speed School, Arthur Street from Warnock Avenue to Eastern Parkway and Old Eastern Parkway, including the viaduct under the bridge.
According to both Clifford and Drees, one of the main goals of these projects is safety.
During the third part, Eastern Parkway in front of Speed School will be converted to two lanes, with an attractive median in the middle. The new median will contain a fence, inhibiting jaywalking and directing students to crosswalks.
Also, the tunnel under Eastern Parkway will be permanently closed to students.
“Part of this project will dampen traffic, improve lighting and walkways and make the area in front of Speed School a more attractive part of campus,” said Drees.
Students who want to know more about the roadwork and road closures around campus are encouraged to go to the official state Web site for the project, louisvilleworkzones.ky.gov, or U of L’s Web site, louisville.edu/update/roadwork.
