Transportation Cabinet representative talks ongoing road projects at Corbin Rotary Club meeting

On Thursday, Keenan Jones of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet was the guest speaker at the Corbin Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at David’s Steakhouse. Jones fielded several questions from club members and the media, mostly concerning the ongoing construction in Williamsburg off of Exit 15 on Interstate 75.

Although Jones was unable to provide much insight into the developmental process that ultimately led to the decision to install a pair of roundabouts at Exit 15, he did say that the exact placement of the new roadways had mainly to do with the fact that it wasn’t going to be financially feasible to create new space via demolition of the nearby rock faces.

“They had looked at what it would take to cut that mountain back, and the cost was just astronomical,” Jones explained.

When asked about semi-trucks that would be encountering the roundabouts when entering and exiting north Williamsburg off of I-75, Jones said that the design would allow for large trailers to move overtop of the center of the roundabout in order to avoid getting stuck.

As for the general idea of having a roundabout located right off of an interstate exit, Jones admitted that it is not common, but based on past experiences he feels that drivers will be able to quickly make the transition and become comfortable with the new layout once it is in place.

School traffic from the nearby Whitley County High, Middle, Intermediate and Primary Schools was also a concern that was raised. In response, assurance was given by Jones that the project is slated to be completed before the start of the next school year.

Jones touched on several other ongoing and upcoming projects during his time with the Rotary Club Thursday, including the news that construction should be getting underway sometime in the next month to install frontage roads off of 25E in North Corbin to help alleviate traffic congestion between the intersection commonly referred to as “malfunction junction” and the I-75 on ramp at Exit 29.

Jones also said that the grant-funded road widening project in South Corbin is still on track to proceed, possibly sometime in 2023. Right now, land acquisition and utility work is ongoing in preparation for the construction, which will result in five lanes, including a turn lane, between the start of the Corbin Bypass and where Fifth Street Road meets Falls Highway.

And speaking of Fifth Street Road, Jones said that another roundabout project is still in the developmental phase, but when complete it will hopefully result in a solution to the dangerous traffic encountered in a particularly sharp turn near the side entrance of Corbin Primary School. Three roads converge at this spot, including Black Diamond Road and Highway 3421.

One Rotary member in attendance also inquired about whether any projects were being planned for US Highway 25 between Corbin and London. Jones said that, at this time, no such projects are in the works.