A project that has been in the works for over seventeen years and has become quite controversial in the last couple of years, is again asking for community input for the latest design.
The 641 Connect project, with work already completed between Marion and Fredonia, is about to enter the final phase. Construction is expected to begin by 2025 in Caldwell and Lyon counties.
During a public meeting held last week in Fredonia, around 100 people saw the latest plans that have been drafted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The new plans called for a 2+1 roadway design, instead of a full four-lane, like Highway 641 in Crittenden County.
The proposed roadway would feature a twelve-foot lane in each direction, a center, a twelve-foot alternating passing lane, and outside shoulders of ten feet. State officials said the addition of a passing lane would allow drivers to safely bypass slower vehicles, reducing the risk of head-on collisions and preventing backups that are common on two-lane roads.
The updated Highway 641 plan follows a path that aims to reduce the impact on farmland and the number of homes that were going to be taken for the project. The new proposed alignment now runs along the West Kentucky Correctional Farm Center and a section of the old railroad bed.
Fredonia Mayor Jim Siebert told Your News Edge that he is glad to see the proposed highway will stay out of his city limits.
He added there are still mixed comments regarding the proposed project.
Siebert said no matter what happens with the project, the dynamics of northern Caldwell County will change.
Those who were unable to attend last week’s meeting can still submit comments about the project through Tuesday, August 15, 2023. One way to submit feedback is by calling 270-898-2431 and making an appointment to visit the KYTC District 1 office in Paducah to review displays and make comments. The proposed project can also be viewed at 641Connect.com, and comments can be submitted via the website.
Comments can also be submitted by mail, postmarked before August 15, and sent to Kyle Poat, P.E., KYTC District 1 Office, 5501 Kentucky Dam Road, Paducah, Kentucky 42003.
