Make no mistake: I-24 needs some serious love.
During Monday night’s Trigg County Fiscal Court meeting, Judge-Executive Stan Humphries confirmed that local and regional elected officials and leaders received an extensive and in-depth look at the completed corridor study Monday morning in Hopkinsville — and that he could share a few details before the report’s release by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Humphries said he, and many others, have long been “advocates” for helping with the congestion between Paducah and Nashville — something that has only worsened over the years — and that this scoping study was supposed to highlight some problems and solutions.
In short, it did.
Humphries noted that Tennessee officials have already orchestrated work from the state line down to Exit 11 toward Nashville, but everything from the Ohio River down to Oak Grove needs attention.
Trigg and Lyon counties, he added, are “smack in the middle.”
Currently through Trigg County, Humphries said I-24’s daily traffic count averages 25,000-to-28,000 vehicles, with 20% of those being transfer trucks and semis.
From Exit 81 to Tennessee, he added, is between 42,000-to-50,000 commuters.
These counts, he said, could double by 2050 — and the study contains bullet points suggesting trucks have more places to stop and rest along this 91-mile stretch.
Another concern, he said, is the potential service material, and the pros and cons of using asphalt and concrete.
The bottom line, according to Humphries, is that an added third lane on eastbound and westbound would today cost about $3.5 billion, or $32 million a mile.
Humphries said, generally, the study confirmed what many have long believed.
KYTC officials have also confirmed that the full, and extensive, report will be made public in the coming days.
