KYTC gives construction update on US-31W Rich Pond area

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - If traveling in the morning or afternoon takes you down US-31W near South Warren Middle and High Schools, you might want to leave the house or work a little earlier than usual.

Construction for the widening project is still in progress, and heavy traffic is expected with school back in session.

“We are really progressing with the paving now. Then we have to move onto the signage and some other things,” said Wes Watt the public information officer for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3. “As we progress, the congestion and the traffic impacts will get less and less, which is great news, but anyone traveling through this area in the short-term, in the next few weeks or even in the next month or so, should expect heavy traffic congestion and traffic delays.”

Watt added that the traffic congestion will get a “little bit easier” as progress continues.

Watt says the construction project is coming full-circle. It is expected to be complete by late fall or early winter of 2022.

“Thankfully we’re at the tail end. When we’re finished, we are going to have a much improved and upgraded road in a very fast growing busy area,” he said. “Not only with business and residentials, but we also have the school system here and they’ve got some projects out here, too, so it’s going to be a wonderful project, but we just have to go through the pains of getting it constructed.”

The transportation cabinet is also trying to combat the difficulty for those who have to travel through that area.

“We have modified some of our construction schedule so that early in the morning and then later in the afternoon when school’s getting out,” Watt said. “We’re going to try not to have the flaggers out flagging the road and things like that.”

Remember to slow down and be cautious in construction zones.

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