The Jefferson County Public Works Department is attempting to limit heavy vehicle traffic, like trucks, school buses and emergency response vehicles, on a portion of Old Lemay Ferry in Imperial while construction crews improve the road.
Motorists are encouraged to take detours to avoid a quarter-mile stretch from Regency Woods Place to Kneff Road, Public Works Director Jason Jonas said. The road narrows to one lane of traffic along that stretch so crews may work to add 4-foot-wide shoulders and straighten tight curves there.
The road is open to local traffic, or people who live in the immediate area, Jonas said.
“We are trying to limit the amount of traffic that goes through there,” he said. “We’ve talked to the Fox School District, and they’ve been receptive to rerouting their buses, for example. Emergency services have largely been able to (reroute) as well.”
Crews with Above and Below Contracting LLC in Imperial will cut some of the steep bluff slopes to allow for better sight distance, and high-friction pavement will be added to the portion of the road.
The project will cost $2,473,981.12, with a federal grant covering 80 percent, or $1,979,184.90, and the county covering 20 percent, or $494,796.224, with part of its share of a countywide 1/2-cent sales tax for road and bridge improvements.
Jonas said motorists should expect roadwork to extend through September, with a full closure of that portion of Old Lemay Ferry this summer, most likely in July.
“At some point in the summer, we will have to do a brief, up to one-month shutdown, as we try to tackle those larger curves,” he said. “It will be difficult to have vehicles get through there while we’re doing that.”
Current detour
Southbound heavy vehicle traffic is advised to take a detour around the construction work on Old Lemay Ferry using Seckman Road. From there, motorists will turn right onto the West Outer Road and then right onto Old Antonia Road before taking another right onto Old Hwy. M, which intersects Old Lemay Ferry.
Jonas said northbound motorists will essentially take the same detour in reverse: turning left from Old Hwy. M to Old Antonia Road and then left on West Outer Road and left on Seckman Road before turning right to get back on Old Lemay Ferry.