The KY 54 widening project starts Thursday, and project officials say traffic will primarily not be affected until crews begin Phase 1 in late July or August. The project involves widening 1.3 miles of the roadway to make three lanes of traffic going in each direction along with adding a concrete median.
Construction is expected to be finished by November 30, 2026, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The project will cost $23.3 million and stretches from Heartland Crossing Boulevard to just west of the U.S. 60 bypass and Bold Forbes Way. Yager Materials is the contractor on the project.
KYTC officials said the project addresses the busiest stretch of KY 54, with about 32,000 cars passing through the area daily.
Starting Thursday, KYTC Crews will place construction signage along the roadway, a process that is expected to have little to no impact on traffic flows on KY 54 or side roads. Once signs are in place, crews will begin locating and moving buried utility lines in the expanded roadway route. Some delays and lane restrictions are possible during this process, which could take several months.
The most significant impact of this project on local traffic will begin in late July or early August, according to KYTC. During this phase, while all lanes will remain open, a 10-foot lane restriction will be implemented. Eastbound lanes will also be shifted to allow for construction on that side of the roadway. When Phase 1 is completed, work will switch to the westbound side, with those lanes being shifted.
During the third and final phase, the new concrete median will be constructed and asphalt will be applied to the widened roadway. Crews plan to work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily throughout the construction period, although occasional night hours may be necessary.
