MASON — Mason-Montgomery Road is expected to reopen Thursdayafter being widened from two to four lanes between Tylersville Road and Main Street, part of a $5.7 million improvement project that closed the road for six months.

        The reopening comes in time for the annual “Christmas in Mason” event, which is 6-9 p.m. Friday in downtown Mason.

        And it couldn't come soon enough for Mabel Long, who lives on Mason-Montgomery Road. She said the road closure “does put you at a disadvantage ... not just for me, but everybody who lives here.”

        Ms. Long, the assistant manager at Busken Bakery, just off Mason-Montgomery Road, said businesses have taken a hit since the road closed in June. She estimated sales were down about 30 percent at Busken's.

        Project engineer Kurt Seiler said some additional work, including laying a coat of asphalt and permanent striping, will be done in the spring.

        “We still have the area between (U.S.) 42 and Church Street to widen next spring, so the project is way more than halfway done,” Mr. Seiler said. “We've got streetlights and traffic signals that still need to go in the next spring. All of the bike path needs to go in.”

        The project included relocation of a water main around the Muddy Creek Bridge south of Main Street and placement of a new sanitary sewer line from the bridge to Tylersville Road. Storm-water collection lines were also built and utility companies moved overhead power lines onto new poles.

        U.S. 42 between Second Avenue and Mason-Montgomery Road will be closed from 5-10 p.m. Friday. Detours will be posted to direct motorists around downtown via Tylersville and Mason-Montgomery roads.

        Also Friday, parking will be prohibited from 4-10 p.m. on U.S. 42 between Second Avenue and Main Street and also on the north side of Church Street between Mason-Montgomery Road and North Forest.

Mayor boots Rev. Lynch from race commission
Text of Lynch's response
Text of Black United Front letter
Israel bombing victim was student here
Parents seek help in sex case
How to protect your kids from sexual abuse
Ted Gregory visitation today
Unknown boy seen trailing Patty
Case tests college admission policies
'Equal funding' approved for city schools
Family finds biracial adoption a blessing
Meeting to consider county plan
Possible witnesses to shooting sought
Proposal cuts funds for biomedical research
PULFER: Tough talk about war, reputation
Sycamore day celebrates Kwanzaa fest
Congrats
Golfers on a roll as fall lingers
Good News: Program for kids in need
Local Digest
Mason-Montgomery to reopen
Two Miami students die in crash
New Lebanon council feels its way
Nonprofit to help farmers' business
Store relies on free labor
Testimony rebuts insanity plea
Fairfield waits on bus allocation
Kentucky Digest
New recreation sites entertained
Politician's re-election bid begins
Care program battles fund cuts
Frankfort woman delivers quintuplets
Horse, tobacco sales hit farm economy