Governor Andy Beshear has announced a $2 million project to improve road safety and access to James Madison Middle School in Hopkins County, including the widening of Kentucky Highway 254.
The project will begin with the widening of Kentucky Highway 254 to include a third additional traffic lane, as well as the construction of a new left turn lane leading into Athey Airport Road. Road work is expected to begin by May 28th of next week.
In addition to changes to Kentucky Highway 254, plans are also set to relocate the main entrance to James Maddison Middle School from Patriot Drive, which it shares with two other schools, to Athey Airport Road. This will be made possible by the construction of a new entrance road connecting that road to the JMMS parking lot. This road will provide an extra 700 feet of car space for school pick up and drop offs.
A new five foot wide sidewalk will also be constructed connecting Athey Airport Drive to Sunrise Drive by the east side of Kentucky Highway 254.
This road project is just one of 60 planned road projects funded under Gov. Beshear to improve road safety near Kentucky schools. A similar road project in Hopkins County was completed just last year and provided a safer entrance to Pride Elementary School.