Lexington drivers navigate multiple construction projects as I-75 nears completion

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Drivers across Lexington are getting a bit of relief as one major road project nears completion, but many say the orange barrels never seem to disappear.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet expects the I-75 widening project to be complete by the end of this month. Transportation officials say all eight lanes should reopen to traffic by the end of October.

Paving work on Euclid Avenue has also wrapped up. But drivers say they’re still dealing with construction on some of the busiest roads, including Newtown Pike.

“It just seems like everywhere in Lexington it’s just construction work, and it seems like before they finish a project they’re working on a new one, so it’s just like adding up,” said Jerry Hayden, a Richmond resident.

Newtown Pike construction continues

For more than two and a half years, drivers on Newtown Pike have had to navigate orange barrels as state crews widen one of Lexington’s main routes in and out. The road work is a state project, but it still impacts Lexington drivers.

Abby Wilson, owner of The Tack Shop of Lexington, deals with the construction every day on her way to work. She said Newtown Pike has always been notorious for its traffic, but she doesn’t think the construction has affected her overall business, just foot traffic.

“I have noticed a little bit of extra pickup orders and online shipping orders in town; you know, across town, they could get it the next day and don’t have to come up here,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that as I-75 construction wraps up, she’s noticed less overflow traffic cutting through Newtown Pike. She hopes driving will become smoother once all the projects are complete.

“I honestly don’t feel like the traffic is any worse than it was before the construction, but yeah, hopefully once it’s done it will free up quite a bit,” Wilson said.

Jerry Hayden is a delivery driver whose facility is located in the middle of the Newtown Pike construction. He said the construction has made his job tough on some days as he navigates the orange barrels and deals with other frustrated drivers.

“Especially at the end of the day when we’re all ready to get home and get back to the station, with that construction and just building traffic up, I know without the traffic, 5 or 6 o’clock, it’s bad, so it just makes it 10 times worse with the construction work,” Hayden said.

Hayden said other drivers have gotten so frustrated with the construction that they honk at him. He keeps a safe distance between his van and the car in front of him and encourages other drivers to have patience.

“Try not to rush through because you know that extra 5, 10 seconds isn’t worth getting into an accident and then adding more to the traffic,” Hayden said.

Dozens of road closures citywide

According to Lexington’s public works web page, the city has more than two dozen current projects that impact drivers, including road changes, water infrastructure, and utility work. Most are closed for only part of the day and scheduled to be blocked off anywhere between one day and two weeks. Some projects have a longer-lasting impact, like Cooper Drive at University Drive, which is reduced to one lane until mid-December.