By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Kentucky transportation officials are looking for a more practical, quicker solution to improve the condition of Columbia Avenue, according to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 Chief Engineer Joe Plunk, who gave numerous road project updates at the Glasgow City Council meeting on March 9.
The total pavement rehabilitation project, which would entail removing and replacing the 75-year-old concrete from Front Street to the Glasgow High School entrance, was dubbed the “Cadillac” plan by Plunk, who added that the total cost of the project was currently around $10 million with rough 42 parcels of land that would need to be acquired by the cabinet.
“So right now we’re about $2 million to buy rights-of-way, $3.5 million to move utilities and $5.5 million for construction,” Plunk said. “Basically we’re being asked to go back to the drawing board on this. That doesn’t mean the ultimate project won’t happen at some point, but it’s just not realistic at this point where we are in our budget cycle.”
“What we’re trying to do is present a more practical solution. I’ll call it a 75 percent solution for 25 percent of the cost,” Plunk added.
Getting the price down from the estimated $10 million would allow for the cabinet to move on the project faster than if they were to wait for the full amount, Plunk said, using the example of buying a tarp to provide a short-term, quicker fix to a leaky roof rather than waiting until a person has the money to replace the entire roof.
“If we can get this $10 million solution down to $1.5 million we’re more likely to get things done and on the ground sooner than if we wait,” Plunk said.
One potential solution that was discussed was making “strategic concrete slab repairs” and paving the whole road, similar to what was done to the state road in the 1990s, which lasted roughly 20 years, Plunk added. Best case scenario this would be a next year project, he said.
Council member Elizabeth Shoemaker asked Plunk if this “band-aid” solution would increase the price. Plunk responded “yes.”
While in the state highway plan, Plunk said he couldn’t provide many specifics until Kentucky’s legislature approved the transportation budget. Until then, there’s nothing concrete planned for Columbia Avenue at the moment.
Key Facts
• Kentucky transportation officials are reconsidering a $10 million full rebuild of Columbia Avenue in Glasgow
• District 3 Chief Engineer Joe Plunk briefed the Glasgow City Council on March 9
• The original plan would replace 75-year-old concrete from Front Street to the Glasgow High School entrance
• Estimated costs include $2 million for rights-of-way, $3.5 million for utilities and $5.5 million for construction
• Officials are exploring a lower-cost repair option Plunk described as a 75 percent solution for 25 percent of the cost
• One idea is strategic concrete slab repairs plus paving, similar to work done in the 1990s
• A scaled-back project could potentially move forward as soon as next year
• Final details depend on Kentucky’s state budget approval, and no firm plan is set yet for Columbia Avenue
Other state road projects were discussed at the council meeting. Those will be reported on separately by Glasgow News 1.
