Construction continues this week along Richmond and Athens-Boonesboro roads (U.S. 25 and KY 418) in Lexington for safety and traffic flow improvements. Motorists should expect traffic shifts and lane closures from Man O’ War Boulevard to Ashley Woods Drive.

Contractors have started work at Brenda Cowan Elementary School and other intersections to convert them to safer restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTs). Single lane closures on Richmond/Athens-Boonesboro Road will be used to complete as much work as possible while school is not in session. Lane closures have been scheduled to lessen impacts during peak travel times.

Traffic Changes:

• Location: U.S. 25/KY 418 from Man O’ War Boulevard to Ashley Woods Drive.
• Single Lane Closures (Outbound from Lexington): 5:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.
• Single Lane Closures (Inbound to Lexington): 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.
• Speed Limit: Temporarily reduced to 35 mph.
• Lane Widths: Reduced to 10.5 feet.
• Travel Lanes: Outside of lane closure hours, two lanes in each direction will remain open, shifted toward the inside of the roadway.

Motorists should anticipate delays and exercise caution when traveling through the area.

Richmond Road Improvement Project

This work is part of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s $13.2 million project to convert five more intersections in the corridor between Man O’ War Boulevard and I-75 to safer RCUTs (restricted crossing U-turns), which eliminate left-hand turns from side streets. RCUTs reduce the number of times vehicles cross paths – or conflict points – at intersections, thereby reducing the likelihood of severe crashes. It’s a proven design nationwide and across Kentucky that significantly improves safety and traffic efficiency.

Intersections that will be converted to RCUTs include those at Yorkshire Boulevard and Squires Road, Ellerslie Park Boulevard and a new Jacobson Park entrance, Hays Boulevard and a new U.S. 25 connector at Aphids Way, at Athens Boonesboro Service Road, and at Brenda Cowan Elementary School. These will be like the RCUT that opened last year at Competition Drive near the soccer complex.

Construction is expected to continue through 2025 and into next year with corridor upgrades, including a new Jacobson Park entrance, shared-use path, and other roadway improvements, completed by fall 2026.

To learn more about the Richmond Road improvements, visit the project website at richmondroadimprovements.com.

You can also find out how RCUT intersections work on KYTC’s SAFERoad Solutions web page.

All work and/or closures are scheduled on a tentative basis, and subject to change depending on weather conditions, emergencies, and other factors beyond the control of the Department of Highways.

District 7 includes: Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford Counties

Keep up with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Navigate traffic with GoKY or via Waze on your smartphone!

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