During a public meeting held last week to discuss potential improvements to KY 1456 (Thruston Dermont Road), 76-year-old resident Thomas Dant learned the proposed route would cut directly through the property he’s lived at for 40 years — meaning he’d have to locate.
“I was just distraught. I’m almost 76 years old and I just wasn’t prepared,” he said of his initial reaction.
He said that he did not receive any notice from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prior to the meeting. Public Information Officer Keirsten Jaggers said that’s typical practice for the agency.
“KYTC’s standard practice is to share our initial proposed alignment at a public meeting. A Right-of-Way Relocation Specialist was at the public meeting to meet with potentially affected homeowners and answer their questions face-to-face,” Jaggers said.
Dant told Owensboro Times this week that while he was overwhelmed at first, he’s since given it some thought and is willing to sell his property to the state. He said while he has lived in the home for 40 years, he doesn’t know what his future holds before the project would begin.
“I got to thinking about it, and the way the government works it might be 2 or 3 years before they do anything. I’m almost 76 now, but by then I may be in a nursing home or dead. I’m not going to let it try to destroy me,” Dant said.
Jaggers said KYTC is committed to reducing property owner impacts whenever possible, and that the decision to pass through Dant’s property was made due because it reduces the impact on other homeowners.
“Currently, there is one property relocation based on the current proposed route. Altering the proposed route to avoid Mr. Dant’s property may lead to relocating three other households,” Jaggers said.
KYTC is still accepting input on the project options. The comment form can be accessed directly here, while project details are available here.
The project involves the section of Thruston Dermont Road beginning at Hayden Road and ending at KY 54. Generally, the proposal includes widening the roadway to three lanes, adding a pedestrian sidewalk, and eliminating hazardous sight distances.
As discussed during the public meeting and detailed in the flyer available here, there are three project options:
- Urban alternate
The urban alternate consists of a 3-lane urban typical section beginning at KY 54 up thru the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road West. From that point extending north, KY 1456 is a 2-lane urban typical. The 3-lane typical section consists of 2-11’ lanes with 2’ curb and gutter and a center 12’ lane for left turning vehicles; 5’ sidewalk on both sides of KY 1456. The 2-lane typical section consists of the same components without the center 12’ turn lane. The roadway would overlay existing KY 1456 with widening on both sides. - Rural alternate
The rural alternate consists of a 3-lane rural typical section beginning at KY 54 up thru the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road West. From that point extending north, KY 1456 is a 2-lane rural typical. The 3-lane typical section consists of 2-11’ lanes with 8’ shoulders (6’ paved) and a center 12’ lane for left turning vehicles; 5’ sidewalk on the east side of KY 1456. The 2-lane typical section consists of the same components without the center 12’ turn lane and without the sidewalk from Pleasant Valley Road West to Hayden Road. The roadway would overlay existing KY 1456 with widening on both sides. - No build alternate
Existing KY 1456 in Owensboro serves as an Urban Major Collector with future traffic, pedestrian and bicyclist impacts due to the proposed development of KY 54, existing and future residences, and the Adkisson Greenbelt. Portions of the existing roadway horizontal and vertical alignment do not meet the current AASHTO design standards for the current traffic volumes and posted speed limit. Also, the existing narrow lanes with little to no shoulders create a safety problem along the route. The no build would result in this substandard roadway remaining, which would not accommodate the expected traffic or improve safety and does not meet the project purpose and need.
Jaggers said after all feedback is collected, KYTC will make a final design proposal this month. She said there are no concrete dates on implementation, but that once plans are approved KYTC will notify all affected property owners through a proposed acquisition letter.
