The Jefferson County Public Works Department will hold an open house from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at Simpson Elementary School, 3585 Vogel Road, in Arnold to discuss proposed improvements to a section of Old Lemay Ferry Road just south of Arnold.
Jason Jonas, the county’s Public Works director, said plans call for improvements to an approximately 0.7-mile stretch of Old Lemay Ferry Road, starting about 700 feet north of Spring Forest Road and going to the traffic signal at Vogel Road.
He said he didn’t know exactly when the work would start, but it would be sometime in 2024.
Jonas also said he didn’t know how long it would take to complete the improvement project, which will cost an estimated $2.1 million. He said a federal grant will cover $1,260,000 of the cost, and the county will pay for the remaining $840,000 with funds from its road tax.
The project will add 5-foot shoulders to both sides of the road and a left turn lane from Old Lemay Ferry onto Adobe Drive. It also will cut back what Jonas called a “hump curve” located just north of Spring Forest Road.
“It is a really quick vertical rising grade and then drop,” Jones said. “It limits the sight distance. We will cut that down about 4 or 5 feet so we have a nice flat, straight grade.
“That is in a fairly straight stretch of Old Lemay Ferry, and people go pretty fast through that stretch. With sight distance being limited a bit in the hump curve, cutting that down will greatly increase the safety with people being able to see each other.”
The project also will include stormwater improvements,” Jonas said.
“We are going to do a closed drainage to capture the roadway runoff, and that will go to a pipe that leads to a creek behind those houses,” he said.
Jonas encourages those interested in the project to attend the open house.
“We will show the preliminary plans with a road layout and an aerial view so they can put a picture to the thousands of words they are hearing,” he said. “You will be able to see all of the improvements on the improvement boards. We will talk through (the improvements), and people will be able to see how it will impact traffic and property access.”
Jonas also said people can provide feedback at the meeting.
“We definitely appreciate them coming up to share their thoughts and opinions,” he said.
Other improvements on the heavily-trafficked Old Lemay Ferry Road are underway. For example, work is being done between East Rock Creek and Spring Forest roads.
“We have a lot of work going on Old Lemay Ferry the next four years, and we appreciate everyone’s patience,” Jonas said.