Published: February 17, 2009 11:32 am            

Partial cloverleaf at junction of U.S. 27, Ky. 1247, Ky. 90 now open for traffic

Monticello — The partial cloverleaf interchange at the junction of U.S. 27, Ky. 90

and Ky. 1247 in northern Burnside opened shortly after noon Thursday.

Stephanie Daffron, public information officer for the Kentucky

Department of Highways' District 8, said the traffic control lights at the

interchange were removed and the ramps were opened slowly, one at a time. No

traffic signals are planned in the vicinity of the interchange, highway

department engineers said.

Daffron said motorists started using the ramps immediately and they

appeared to be doing very well.

"We have advised motorists to use caution until they familiarize

themselves with the ramps and they seemed to be doing that ... driving

slowly," Daffron said. Signs have been installed to direct motorists and she

suggested careful attention to the sign messages.

The partial cloverleaf interchange is designed to connect the planned

four-laning of U.S. 27 through Burnside to the entrance of General Burnside

Island State Park; the current four-laning of Ky. 1247 from the interchange

through Cedar Grove to Ky. 914 (southeastern bypass); and Ky. 90 west to the

new bridge over Lake Cumberland and to Monticello.

The interchange overpass will take through traffic on Ky. 90 and Ky.

1247 above U.S. 27 and Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. Appropriately

designed ramps and signs will direct traffic north, south, east and west

onto the motorist's road of choice.

Travelers on U.S. 27, both north and south, may stay on the four-lane

highway and go beneath the planned overpass. They also may take a ramp and

merge westerly with Ky. 90, or a ramp and merge easterly with Ky. 1247.

Eastbound motorists on Ky. 90 may select a ramp to either north or south

U.S. 27, or stay basically straight ahead and go above U.S. 27 to Ky. 1247.

Westbound traffic on Ky. 1247 will have the same interchange options as

eastbound traffic. Traffic is extremely heavy at the intersection and is

projected to double during the next 20 years.

Elmo Greer and Sons of London is general contractor for the interchange

at a cost of $25.3 million.

        

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