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The Clark Memorial/2nd Street Bridge will close Thursday, April 20, in preparation for Thunder Over Louisville. We ask your help in communicating this information to the public in the coming days. The Louisville Metro Police Department will release their Thunder traffic plan next week.
CLARK MEMORIAL/2ND STREET BRIDGE CLOSURES THUNDER WEEK:
- Thursday, April 20th: 9:30 a.m. – CLOSED thru Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Friday, April 21st: CLOSED ALL DAY
- Saturday, April 22nd: CLOSED ALL DAY
- Sunday, April 23rd: CLOSED Midnight to 2:00 p.m.
BIG FOUR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE:
The Big Four Pedestrian Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, April 21, for the air show practice window. On Thunder day (Saturday), it will also close at 9 a.m. until 12 midnight. Access to the bridge will be restricted to only those pedestrians wishing to cross to the other side from 10 p.m. (post fireworks) to Midnight. Signage will be placed on the Big Four Bridge to help notify the public of the closures and restrictions.
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of the more than 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The 2017 Thunder Over Louisville themed “Thunder: Local & Original” is set for Saturday, April 22. The show is sponsored by Horseshoe Southern Indiana, LG&E, Meijer, UPS and Valero.
Switch to goky.ky.gov will save taxpayers up to $750,000 annually
Motorists traveling throughout Kentucky can now navigate the highways and by-ways of the Bluegrass with a modernized tool. Goky.ky.gov, an online traffic and roadway information portal, has replaced the traditional 511 travel and weather phone system.
The improved, user-friendly platform provides travelers access to reliable, up-to-date information regarding traffic conditions, construction activity, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) response to weather-related events. The new GoKY website includes reports from KYTC as well as from Waze – a real-time traffic reporting application based on crowdsourced information.
“After almost two decades of 511 use, today’s travelers are bypassing the dated phone line for visual, on-demand road and weather conditions,” said Sec. Greg Thomas. “Goky.ky.gov is the perfect solution to satisfy the needs of the traveling public while stewarding state dollars. Our Cabinet employees and partners have worked diligently to deliver a platform that tells the public what they want to know before hitting the road.”
Now, motorists who dial 511 will hear a brief phone message informing them of the change. To request Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Patrol in cases of vehicle breakdown or to report incidents, motorists will be directed to call 877-FOR-KYTC. In addition, the former 511 smart phone application will no longer be offered or operational. The text and email alert feature has also been discontinued.
To provide travelers with a mobile option, KYTC encourages motorists to download the free Waze application. Since 2014, the Cabinet has participated in a public-private partnership with Waze CCP (Connected Citizens Program). Both entities provide a free exchange of real-time data every two minutes, giving drivers a clearer understanding of roadway events. The app provides turn-by-turn navigation as well as traffic reporting.
“Helping drivers have a better experience on Kentucky roads is important but not at the expense of safety. We advise drivers to use GoKY to plan ahead before they drive. To avoid distracted driving, ask your passenger to report delays and incidents using Waze,” said Dr. Noelle Hunter, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.
Over the last two years, call volume to 511 has dropped by nearly 40 percent. This drastic decline prompted Cabinet officials to evaluate the hotline’s effectiveness. Phasing out the phone system will save taxpayers up to $750,000 annually.
In addition, the 511 phase-out shifts all data management to in-house Cabinet staff, which eliminates the need for contractor services. Using existing enterprise infrastructure technologies, Cabinet engineers will now be able to save, capture and process data for future planning and highway safety purposes, a function not available with the old 511 mapping and phone system.
When 511 was conceptualized, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recommended that the three-digit number serve as the single travel information hotline, which eliminated the need for multiple phone numbers. States are not federally required to implement 511; however, Kentucky chose to adopt 511 in 2000 after the Kentucky Public Service Commission permanently assigned the number.
Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their own reports at http://www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application. Follow us on Twitter @KYTCGoKY.
Motorists reminded to buckle up, enforcement heightened through Memorial Day
The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) are reminding motorists to buckle up as law enforcement agencies throughout the state join the nationwide Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization May 23 through June 5.
“Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes,” said KOHS Executive Director Bill Bell. “As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want those traveling our roadways to do the one thing that could save them in a crash: buckle up.”
There were 761 total highway fatalities in Kentucky in 2015, with 588 killed in motor vehicles. Of those 588 fatalities, 358 (61 percent) were unrestrained. Six of those motor vehicle fatalities occurred over the Memorial Day holiday. None were wearing a seat belt.
“Clearly this is an indication that people are not taking the law seriously, or they’re just not aware of the huge risk being taken by not buckling up,” said Bell.
Kentucky has a primary seat belt law, meaning everyone is required to buckle up while in a moving vehicle.
“We will be out in force – day and night – ticketing anyone not wearing a seat belt,” said KSP Sgt. Michael Webb. “Drivers must remember that under Kentucky’s law, you are responsible for making sure all of your passengers are properly restrained.”
This year’s campaign, funded by a federal grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has a special emphasis on pickup trucks. Continue reading
Grant covers Dixie Highway improvements from downtown and beyond
Metro Council President David Tandy (D-4) joined other Metro Council members, Congressman John Yarmuth, Governor Steve Beshear, Mayor Greg Fischer and members of Jefferson County’s Legislative Delegation on Monday to praise the announcement that Metro Louisville will receive a $16.9 million TIGER Grant for the Dixie Highway Master Plan.
“Dixie Highway is just as vital to Metro Louisville as any interstate when it comes to moving people to and from destinations and helping our economy and local businesses,” said Tandy. “We on the Metro Council continue support and advocate for improvements and the modernization of this vital highway.”
The TIGER Grant, along with $11 million in state funding, will improve Dixie Highway by constructing multipurpose lanes for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. There will also be state of the art traffic synchronization for better traffic flow. The funding will also provide TARC with more buses and develop modern rapid transit lanes.
The President said this grant is another enhancement of transportation for Metro Louisville’s urban core.
“It is easy to forget that Dixie Highway begins at 18th Street and Broadway. This grant will help correct traffic flow problems in our downtown and then move out to Algonquin Parkway, Shivery and the Watterson Expressway and then on to the Gene Snyder,” said Tandy.
The grant will also develop landscaping and center medians along the Dixie Highway corridor as a way of improving traffic flow in and out of business locations
“Improving Dixie Highway is just as significant to our infrastructure as the current Ohio River Bridges Project. Both projects will be another plus in Metro Louisville’s favor when it comes to business and travel and our economy.”
Effort will invigorate District 3 for residents and businesses
The announcement of a $16.9 million federal TIGER Grant to Metro Louisville for the revamping and revitalization of Dixie Highway is drawing praise from Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3).
The TIGER Grant along with $11 million from the Commonwealth of Kentucky will allow for the vital funding needed to implement the Dixie Highway Master Plan.
“Those of us who use Dixie Highway every day, welcome this news because it is long overdue,” says Woolridge. “The time has come to address the needs of motorists, pedestrians and the economic drivers of our area.”
The primary goals of the Transforming Dixie Highway Project are to enhance safety and aesthetics throughout the corridor. Safety improvements will include the addition of new multi-use traffic lanes, enhanced pedestrian crossings, median treatments, and state of the art traffic signalization designed to minimize commuter delays. Aesthetic improvements include the addition of landscaping, signage, and streetscape elements to enhance existing business entrances.
“Anyone who lives or works in District 3 and has had to navigate the traffic congestion at Crum Lane or the on off ramps of the Watterson Expressway know how important these traffic flow improvements are,” says Woolridge.
The TIGER Grant also focuses attention on putting new buses on the road with enhanced stops to accommodate TARC and the development of rapid transit, with lanes designated for buses only.
“While some have managed to recover from the economic downturn of 2008 and 2009, the working poor still must rely on affordable public transit to get to work,” says Woolridge. “And if we are truly concerned about sustainability, we must focus more attention on a rapid transit system that encourages us to leave our cars at home and hop on the bus.”
Installation was supposed to begin at the end of summer
Councilman Steve Magre (D-10) is expressing his disappointment that another week has passed and there has been no action from the Norfolk Southern Railroad to move forward with the installation of needed railroad crossing gates at a dangerous intersection in the Buechel area.
“As I have said before the city has done everything it said it would do to make this a reality and the Commonwealth of Kentucky has signed off on an agreement with Norfolk Southern to get this project going,” said Magre. “This delay is inexcusable on the part of Norfolk is just delaying. I think they owe the community an explanation.”
The railroad crossing gates have been proposed after a series of fatal automobile accidents and injuries at Crawford Avenue and Buechel Avenue. Since 2014, it has been a priority to install the crossing gates.
Councilman Magre was instrumental in removing a tree near the tracks. Speed bumps have been installed along with new stop signs and new striping on the road. He had hoped gate installation would have begun by the end of summer.
“It would have been ideal to make the road in question a cul-da-sac but that is not going to happen because of safety reason and concerns expressed by the Buechel Fire Department,” said Magre. “Since that is no longer an option, it is time to move forward with getting these gates installed and running. I would hope Norfolk Southern would get moving with this project because of its importance to the area.”
Councilman David James (D-6) welcomes all the participants who have come to Louisville for this year’s IRONMAN Triathlon set for Sunday, October 11th.
“This is a great competition and we want to wish everyone the best of luck but residents and drivers will find out that there are many traffic changes set for Sunday,” says James. “We want the athletes to be safe and we want to minimize any frustration by drivers. So in order to plan your travels, Louisville metro police have issued the traffic changes that are in place for the competition.”
IRONMAN TRIATHLON
STREET CLOSURE AND NO PARKING AREA LIST
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015
STREET CLOSURES
The following streets will be closed during the following times;
5:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Bingham Way
River Road from Third Street I-64 W/B Ramp to Bingham (local access only-Joe’s Crab Shack)
7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
River Road from Preston Street to Witherspoon Street
River Road from Preston Street to U.S. 42
Morning traffic will be allowed west on River Road after the bicycle safety tail car. Afternoon traffic (approximately 1 pm) will be allowed east on River Road after the safety tail car.
11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Brook Street from Witherspoon Street to Main Street
Main Street from Brook Street to Third Street
Second Street (under 2nd St. bridge) from Witherspoon to River Rd.
Third Street from Main Street to Liberty Street
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Third Street from Liberty Street to Winkler Avenue
Fourth Street from Liberty Street to Chestnut Street
Muhammad Ali Blvd. from Second Street to Fourth Street
Chestnut Street from Third Street to Fifth Street
Noon to 1:00 a.m
Winkler Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street
Fourth Street from Winkler Avenue to Oakdale Avenue
Oakdale Avenue from Fourth Street to Southern Parkway
Central Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth St.
12:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Southern Parkway from Third Street to New Cut Road
Southern Parkway Ramp from Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) eastbound
3:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Liberty Street from Second Street to Fifth Street
Traffic will only be allowed to cross the route on the following roadways when the area is clear of runners during the following times;
Jefferson Street Entire Event
Liberty Street 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Breckinridge Street 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Kentucky Street 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Hill Street 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cardinal Blvd. 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Central Avenue Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Woodlawn Avenue 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Watterson Expressway can also be used to cross the route during the entire event.
NO PARKING AREAS
The following streets will have no parking on them during the following times;
5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
River Road from Edith Lane to Preston Street
Witherspoon Street from Preston Street to Bingham Way
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Brook Street from Witherspoon Street to Main Street
Main Street from Brook Street to Third Street
Third Street from River Road to Liberty Street
7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Liberty Street from Third Street to Fifth Street
Muhammad Ali Blvd. from Second Street to Fourth Street
Chestnut Street from Third Street to Fifth Street
Fourth Street from Muhammad Ali Blvd. to Chestnut Street
Third Street from Liberty Street to Winkler Avenue
Winkler Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street
Fourth Street from Winkler Avenue to Oakdale Avenue
Oakdale Avenue from Fourth Street to Southern Parkway
Central Avenue from Fourth Street to Sixth Street