RICHWOOD — Northern Kentucky residents are being invited to comment on an $18 million Boone County road project before the major plans are drafted by the state.

        The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet wants to hear ideas and concerns from residents before beginning the design work on a plan to widen U.S. 25 between Richwood and Florence.

        “This is a little different from the way we've done things in the past,” said Daryl Greer, a state planning engineer.

IF YOU GO

The state will hold a public hearing on the U.S. 25 road project Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. at Ryle High School, just south of Union on U.S. 42. Information about the project will be available at the meeting.

        “We're coming out early and holding a public meeting to discuss issues with the public before we start actually designing the project,” Mr. Greer said Thursday.

        “By doing this we can hear from people and then address traffic, construction and environmental concerns very early on in the process, which should save us time and money and prevent us from having to come back to redesign or rework the project.”

        Though all the details must be worked out, the project focuses on the widening of U.S. 25 between Industrial Road in Florence south to Ky. 338, also known as Richwood Road, in Richwood.

        As Boone and Kenton counties have grown, residential, commercial and industrial developments have increased traffic on the two-lane route that runs parallel to Interstate 75 through Boone County, Mr. Greer said.

        “The goals of the project are to improve safety and improve the (traffic) capacity along the route,” he said.

        Work will likely include an addition of one or two lanes; construction of turn lanes at busy intersections such as Mount Zion Road and U.S. 25; and improvements to increase visibility and safety at several railroad crossings.

        Mike Stallings, owner of the Richwood Flea Market on U.S. 25, a business that attracts thou sands of customers on weekends, said the project is needed.

        “Based on the increased traffic, I think it's obvious something has to be done,” Mr. Stalling said Thursday. “And it's not just on Saturday and Sunday. The traffic flow is almost constant now. I'm glad the state is looking at doing something here.”

        Construction, however, isn't scheduled to begin until 2006. The design work is set to be done in 2002, with right-of-way proper ty acquisition and utility relocation scheduled for 2004.

        For people unable to attend the hearing, maps and information are available at the state Highway District Office, 421 Buttermilk Pike in Fort Mitchell.

        Comments will be accepted until Feb. 2 by writing Annette Coffey, director of the Division of Planning, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 125 Holmes St., Frankfort, KY 40622.

High-tech provides help in Springdale
Lights are green, but more drivers are seeing red
Murder-for-hire alleged
People moving for better schools, new neighbors
Survey finds HMOs better
3 judges to make call in fans' suit
Events to mark King's birthday
RADEL: Race relations
Adult titles found at liquor store
Grand jury gets drug case
Lebanon to ask $48M for schools
Man charged in defacing of synagogue
Price $1.5M more to re-create Nordstrom site as parking lot
Triple-murder suspect under $6 million bail
Atty. general moves to save historic cemeteries
Developer to lead GOP in Butler Co.
Districts target 'achievement gap'
Inez banker may become RNC treasurer
New post for aide to Mrs. Henry
Pen pals, face to face
Police: '94 killing near solved
Police chase spans three counties
Shunned minister honored
State wants to hear from you on U.S. 25 widening project
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report