Olive Hill — Fulfilling decades of Carter County campaign promises, the final layer of pavement will be applied to the “Rock Crusher Curve” project along U.S. 60 near Olive Hill in the days ahead — if weather allows.
Traffic along the 1.5-mile stretch of highway will be reduced to a single lane and controlled by flaggers during the paving process. Motorists who want to avoid the construction zone and the likelihood of a short wait are asked to consider getting to and from Olive Hill by using the Smokey Valley Exit from I-64 (Exit 156 Olive Hill/Vanceburg) until paving is completed.
State Highway Department spokesman Allen Blair agreed the straightening of the curve has been talked about for “probably 50 years,” although highway officials began the cumbersome process of making right-of-way purchases, design work and other preliminary efforts within the past few years. A contract for the $12 million project was awarded to Bizzack in the summer of 2007 and the project is scheduled for completion in November.
Blair explained the highway renovation has included a major effort to eliminate “sight distance” issues for people driving into and out of Olive Hill, explaining the section of road that included a horse-shoe curve past a rock quarry.
The section of U.S. 60 has been the scene of multiple accidents, Blair said, and engineers also paid attention to improving intersections and access points, including creation of a new access point for the high school and construction of paved shoulders. The highway plan called for the replacement of two paved sections to straighten curves east of Three Pine Road, and between Three Pine Road and Warrior Drive, to improve alignment and allow for construction of a turn lane.
“Once they are finished with paving, which will be at least another week, it will be the route as planned when it is finished,” Blair said, noting minor jobs including seeding, shoulder and culvert operations will be finished as part of the final phase before the job is completed in November.
“The road is now being used and will continue to be used. It has been a very big effort and we appreciate everyone’s patience,” Blair said, adding the improved highway will offer safety benefits as well as possible economic development opportunities for the city of Olive Hill.
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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