Second Public Meeting held for KY 163 South

Approximately 50 people attended the September 13th public meeting held at the Germany Church of Christ in Monroe County in support of the KY 163 South planning study. Local elected officials had requested the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to conduct a study to analyze the KY 163 roadway between Tompkinsville and the Kentucky-Tennessee state line, a distance of about 9 miles.
KY 163, a narrow, two-lane, winding roadway with little or no shoulders,  is the most direct, as well as the major, travel route through Monroe County to Tennessee Route 51, which connects to Tennessee Route 52, a major east-west connection in Clay County, TN, and provides subsequent connections to I-40 and TN Route 111.
Logging trucks and commercial freight semi-trucks frequently travel the roadway, as well as consumer shoppers from Tennessee. Roadway deficiencies – such as numerous sharp curves, steep grades, poor sight distances, and direct and blind entrances – frequently require reduced travel speeds and have contributed to safety concerns.
At the first meeting held in April of this year, attendees were asked to comment on any concerns, opinions or issues they had with the existing highway. Sharp curves, large trucks, poor visibility and safety were the top four issues the public felt should be addressed on the KY 163 corridor. 
Since the April meeting, traffic and crash data, public comments, and input from state and federal agencies comments have been used in the development of the various preliminary alternatives.
Three sets of alternatives were available for the public to review at last Thursday’s meeting. One alternative was a series of nine spot improvements, a second alternative was a combination of spot improvements plus some smaller sections of new alignment and the remaining alternative was a completely new alignment for the entire roadway.
By the end of the year, the input from this second meeting on these alternatives and further analysis will yield final study recommendations as to what improvements will be pursued.