Nearly 100 citizens attend public meeting in Fredonia to view Connect 641 maps and submit comments to project team

By Emma Collins, Building Kentucky

Almost 100 citizens attended a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) public information meeting on July 11, 2023, to update residents on final plans for the reconstruction of U.S. 641 from U.S. 62 at Eddyville to the Caldwell-Crittenden County Line at Fredonia.  The new roadway will run through portions of Lyon and Caldwell County to connect with an existing section of New U.S. 641 in southern Crittenden County between Fredonia and Marion.

The 641 Connect project follows an alignment that runs along the West Kentucky Correctional Farm Center and a section of old railroad bed to reduce the amount of farmland and number of houses that will be taken for the project. The approximately 9-mile roadway will be three lanes, with one through lane in each direction and a center, alternating passing lane. All three lanes will be 12-feet wide, with 10-foot shoulders on each side.

Known as a 2+1, this three-lane roadway configuration offers many advantages.  It improves safety by providing an alternating passing lane that allows drivers to bypass slower vehicles and reduces the risk of head-on collisions. It also improves mobility and drive-times by reducing backups that are common on two-lane roads. When compared to a four-lane divided highway, 2+1 roads are more cost-effective, take less time to construct and reduce the overall footprint of the project. 

KYTC has been developing the 641 Connect project for the past 15 years in large part because of the need for improved freight movement from I-24 and I-69 to Fredonia and Marion. The new U.S. 641 will connect to a previous improvement project in Marion that was completed in 2019. After conducting an environmental assessment and gathering public input, KYTC selected a preferred alternate route that maximized the use of state-owned property and limited the impacts to private property. Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2025.

KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat says if anyone was unable to attend the public meeting there are still opportunities to review the plans and provide comments. “We continue to need public input to help tweak some things to produce the best project possible.  We appreciate everyone who took time to participate in this meeting to provide feedback,” Poat said.

The U.S. 641 Connect design team was available to answer questions and glean additional input.  The team will review all comments submitted during the meeting and use the input to make adjustments.

Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting may call 270-898-2431, to make an appointment to come by the District 1 Office in Paducah to review displays and make comments.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., CT, with comments accepted until August 15, 2023.  Information will also be available online at www.641connect.com.

Comments may be submitted by mail before August 15, 2023, to Kyle Poat, P.E., KYTC District 1 Office, 5501 Kentucky Dam Rd, Paducah, KY 42003.

All written comments will become part of the official meeting record. Once compiled, the meeting record and supporting documentation will be made available for review and copying only after an Open Records Request has been submitted and approved.

A video of the public meeting is available at www.Facebook.com/kytcdistrict1.