Public Meeting Will Gather Input and Feedback for Ring Road Extension Development South of Elizabethtown
Connectivity East-West Between Current Major Routes Identified as Imminent Need
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (Sep. 8, 2022) – A public meeting is scheduled for September 15th for the extension of Ring Road to make improvements regarding east-west connectivity between radial routes and the interstate/parkway network on the south side of Elizabethtown. Western Kentucky Parkway, KY 1136 (New Glendale Road), I-65 and US 31W currently have no direct east-west connection in this portion of the county and are linked only by indirect, rural roads.
Needs for the project are based on existing and projected land uses with resulting traffic patterns:
• Along US 62 and Ring Road to the west is the main industrial complex for Hardin County and the region — T.J. Patterson Industrial Park — which has many industries and thousands of employees. The Elizabethtown Comprehensive Plan and the resulting zoning ordinance and map have planned for the extension of this industrial area from US 62 to the Western Kentucky Parkway, continuing to be centered on Ring Road. Bordering this industrial site are Elizabethtown Addington Airport, Central Hardin High School and other developments.
• To the south, 3.5 miles down I-65, the Blue Oval-SK lithium battery plant is currently under construction. This plant is the largest single economic investment in Kentucky and when fully staffed will host over 5000 workers.
• Within the immediate area is a mix of residential subdivisions, rural homes and small, family farms. The area is zoned for additional residential subdivisions.
Traffic from these existing and future land uses creates immediate and long-term needs to improve connectivity, including interstate access, in this portion of the county. Since the 1987 Ring Road Extension Study, a proposed project has been included in city and county comprehensive plans. A proposed project is also currently identified in the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s long-range plan to improve the roadway network and meet traffic needs in this portion of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County area.
Two goals have been identified by local officials:
• To improve connectivity between the east and west side of Elizabethtown, including T.J. Patterson Industrial Park and Glendale Industrial Site.
• To provide a missing link in the regional road network from I-65 south of Elizabethtown to the KY 313 extension and north into Indiana. Toward this goal, the project links I-65 via Ring Road to Patriot Parkway, KY 313 and the bypass in Brandenburg, which includes an Ohio River crossing into Indiana. This route notably reduces drive time and use of inner-city roads by through traffic to make a regional connection.
The September 15th public meeting will be held from 5pm to 8pm at New Hope Community Church, which is located at 34 Dee Street, Elizabethtown.
At the meeting, representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will be on hand to gather feedback, answer questions and address concerns. The public will have a chance to review all Ring Road Extension build alternatives and a number of intersection types at KY 1136. After the meeting, materials will be available on the KYTC District 4 webpage for review.
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