PADUCAH — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is continuing to urge area citizens to attend one of the public information meetings planned on the U.S. 60 Connectivity Study.
This Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) study is looking at the feasibility of a new U.S. 60 corridor and Ohio River bridge crossing between U.S. 60 at Barlow, Ky., and Interstate 57 near Future City, Il.
Public meetings will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Ballard Memorial High School Cafeteria, located at 3561 Paducah Rd. in LaCenter and on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cairo High School, located at 4201 Sycamore St. in Cairo.
Each meeting will be held in an open house format. Interested citizens can stop by to review presentations and provide input. KYTC staff and members of the study team will be available to answer questions and gather public comments. The same information will be presented at both meetings.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat encourages anyone interested in the corridor to attend.
“We encourage area citizens to attend one of the in-person meetings,” Poat said. “The study team will share displays and provide updates on the environmental study. We look forward to discussing the study with the public and receiving comments.”
The U.S. 60 Connectivity Study is to provide an assessment of the benefits and impacts of developing a more direct route between U.S. 60 in western Kentucky and I-57 in southern Illinois. The study examines the environmental, social and economic effects of a potential new corridor. KYTC will use the study findings to determine if they will advance this U.S. 60 Corridor or the U.S. 51 Bridge Replacement project near the existing U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge.
The same informational handouts, displays and public comment forms will be available at both meetings. Anyone who is unable to attend one of the two meetings may view displays and materials at the KYTC Paducah office or at US60ConnectivityStudy.com. Public comment forms will also be available online following the Illinois meeting.
Individuals or organizations who wish to submit comments outside of the public meetings may also address them to Kyle Poat, PE, at the KYTC District 1 Office at 5501 Kentucky Dam Road, Paducah, Ky., 42003 or by calling 270-898-2431. Comments will be accepted until Dec. 30, with all comments becoming part of the official meeting record.
