PADUCAH, KY (Aug. 4, 2021)  --  A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a traffic shift for U.S. 641 at the U.S. 641/KY 402 intersection near Hardin in Marshall County next week.

A work zone at the U.S. 641/KY 402 intersection is to allow construction of a Restricted Crossing U-Turn Intersection (R-Cut) to replace the existing intersection and traffic signal. 

The contractor has the following work zone activity to report this week:

• Asphalt paving along U.S. 641 at this site is completed
• Completion of concrete work along U.S. 641 is expected on Friday.

The contractor anticipates the following work zone activities the week of August 9:

• U.S. 641 traffic shifted to the left-hand or passing lanes
• Concrete work to start along KY 402

Motorists should continue to use appropriate caution due to ongoing construction activity.  This work zone has a strict 45 mile per hour speed limit with an enhanced police presence.

The U.S. 641/KY 402 intersection is at Marshall County U.S. 641 mile point 1.224 and KY 402 mile point 8.076 near Hardin.   Approximately 11,500 vehicles travel through this intersection in an average day.

Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers is the prime contractor on this $1,196,823 Highway Safety Improvement Project.  The target completion date is August 15, 2021.

A Restricted Crossing U-Turn restricts left turns, then directs traffic to a dedicated turn lane with a modified U-turn or R-Cut.  The feature allows drivers to divide the decision to navigate through the intersection into several smaller decisions.  An R-Cut reduces the 36 identifiable intersection conflict points by half.  It also eliminates movements that create opportunities for more serious crashes.  R-Cut installations have reduced crashes by up to 54 percent.

For more information on how an R-Cut works, please go to www.US45Safety.org or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzpdTdXDfRw.