ACPA Quarter 2 2019

Concrete Pavement Progress www.acpa.org 12 HOW CAN A 1.4 MILE STRETCH OF FOUR-LANE ROAD CHANGE THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR AN AREA? The residents and business owners of northern Campbell County and the city of Newport are quick to point to the impact the Fall 2018 opening of the Kentucky 9 Connector is having on their area. An average of 9,000 vehicles regularly traveled Kentucky 9, moving toNewport fromother parts of Kentucky and nearby Cincinnati, which is just across the river from Newport. The previous route ran on surface streets through the business district and residential area, creating congestion and safety concerns for neighborhoods. The difficulty reaching Newport on the Levee, a mixed-use retail, entertainment and residential development along the Ohio River, and for that matter, other Newport businesses, did not inspire investment in other properties.The situation also affected existing businesses. With the comple- tion of the new connector, construction began on Ovation, another mixed-use development on a 35-acre site that has been vacant for 13 years. “The main goal of the project was to create an alternate route for KY 9 to avoid the neighbor- hood street with themultitude of turns and traffic signals,” explains Brandon Seiter, P.E., transporta- tion engineer branch manager, KYTCDistrict 6. “We also widened the sidewalk, created bicycle lanes, added a parking lane separated from the road by a concrete median and built two large roundabouts to keep traffic moving.” The project was bid as an alternate design/alter- nate bid that allowed bids for asphalt or concrete pavement. “We selected concrete after consid- ering life cycle costs, which include reduced maintenance costs,” says Seiter. “We have used concrete for a number of our roads and often use the alternate bid process to be sure that we get the best product for the money.” Roundabouts Play Starring Role in Economic Expansion By Sheryl S. Jackson C O N N E C T O R continues on page 14 »