Beaver Dam Rest Stop

The Finance Cabinet has issued the press release copied below below calling for proposals from interested vendors to operate the beloved Beaver Dam rest area.  The prior vendor reportedly didn't turn in a complete proposal and their contract has lapsed.

If you have a business willing to take over this treasured rest area along the WK Parkway, please note the approaching deadlines!

New Operator Sought for Beaver Dam Service Area in Western Kentucky

Finance Cabinet issues new request for proposal, responses due March 8

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 19, 2017) - The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Department for Facilities and Support Services has issued a new request for proposals (RFP) for the now closed Beaver Dam Service Area site located at mile marker 75 on the Wendell Ford-Western Kentucky Parkway.  

This RFP, issued on behalf of the Transportation Cabinet, is due to the previous lease expiring and the Finance Cabinet not receiving responsive proposals to an RFP sent out during the latter part of 2016. Key differences in this solicitation include: 

• Requirement to renovate the restrooms;
• Schedule change for submitting architectural related information;
• Vendor requirement to establish a maintenance escrow account. 

The new RFP, identified as RFP 030817, is posted on the Finance Cabinet’s website. Go to finance.ky.gov and click on “Buildings & Land for sale or lease.” It is also posted on the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s eProcurement website. Click the “Guest Access” button, type in Beaver Dam for a keyword search, then click the "Details" button.

Should there be changes to the RFP schedule or information added, updates will be posted on both websites.  

Following are important dates designated in the RFP:

• Feb. 8, 2017:  Site visit for interested parties.
• March 8, 2017:  Proposals due to the Division of Real Properties, Department for Facilities and Support Services.
• April 2017:  Anticipated vendor selection in early April. Vendor has up to three months to be operational.
• July 2017:  Service area open for business.

Parties interested in submitting a proposal for the project should direct all inquiries to Natalie W. Brawner with the Division of Real Properties.  As the buyer for this solicitation, she is the only person who will be able to answer questions and provide information. She may be reached via email at natalie.brawner@ky.gov.  

Food and gasoline services are available nearby at the U.S. 231 Beaver Dam exit 75 interchange. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has installed temporary message boards and barricades to the entry ramps at the site. 

Additional information is available online at http://finance.ky.gov/

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Controlled Detonation to Briefly Stop Traffic

This is becoming a habit! Another Kentucky Transportation Cabinet traffic advisory came out today for Tuesday (9/23) or Wednesday (9/24):

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is moving ahead with improvements along Lovers Lane in Hopkinsville.

The contractor plans an explosive detonation along the work zone on Tuesday or Wednesday, September 23 or 24, 2014. This controlled detonation will require traffic to be stopped along US 41-Alternate/Ft. Campbell Boulevard near the Lovers Lane intersection at the south edge of Hopkinsville on Tuesday or Wednesday.

This traffic stoppage will be at US 41-Alternate mile point 12.157. Traffic will be stopped about 1500 ft. from the detonation point. Traffic is expected to be stopped for up to 10 minutes.

Some future use of explosives to aid in rock excavation along the project may require additional brief traffic stoppages.

The Lovers Lane (CR-1652) project is designed to improve connections between US 41-Alternate and the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway while providing improved access to the Hopkinsville Convention Center entrance.

Westate Construction of Hopkinsville is the prime contractor on the $1,993,975 transportation improvement project. Completion is expected in mid-August, 2015.

I-24 Traffic Advisory

This morning I received another traffic advisory from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, this time related to I-24 and the installation of additional cable barriers:

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is in the final phases of median cable barrier installation along Interstate 24 in Christian County between the U.S. 41-Alernate Hopkinsville/Ft. Campbell Interchange at Exit 86 and the Kentucky-Tennessee State Line.

The cables are up. However, finish work is continuing. This week the contractor plans to place gravel along the median shoulder to connect the shoulder to the concrete base of the cable barrier. This activity will require a moving lane restriction along the work zone. The contractor will then come back to chip and seal the area along the media shoulder.

This phase will require all traffic to be moved to the right-hand or driving lane in the work zone. Motorists should use extra caution due to trucks moving into and out of the work site.

In Christian County, this work zone begins near the U.S. 41-Alternate Exit 86 interchange at mile point 85.5 and extends to the Kentucky/Tennessee line at mile point 93.4. This section is a continuation of a nearly 16-mile cable barrier installation project in Christian County completed in July of this year.

Placement of median cable barriers is determined by traffic volume and crash data. Kentucky has more than 240 miles of barrier installed or in the process of installation — most of it along interstates and highways in urban areas.

This year, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has budgeted $6.1 million for median barrier installation. The cost per mile averages $140,000 to $150,000 per mile.

The project was awarded to the George B. Stone Company, of Sharpsburg. Completion is expected in mid-October.

Ky DOT Advisory

A traffic construction advisory that just landed in my inbox:

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close KY 345/Huffman Mill Road in CHRISTIAN County on Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 & 17, 2014.

KY 345 will be closed at mile point 8.753 to allow a log jam to be removed from the Little River Bridge.

Flooding over the winter uprooted a large tree that jammed under the bridge and collected a massive amount of debris.  The Christian County Highway Maintenance Crew will have to use a crane to pull some of the large trees off the bridge piers.

This is along KY 345 between KY 107 and KY 695.  Motorists who regularly travel this section of KY 345/Huffman Mill Road should make advance alternate travel plans for Wednesday and Thursday.

There will be no marked detour.  Engineers estimate it will take about two days to remove the debris pile, but the work could extend into Friday.

Timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties of KYTC Highway District 2 are available by going towww.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.