Beshear announces Bristow Elementary School safety project on US 31-W

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Governor Andy Beshear announces a nearly $1 million highway improvement project is underway in Warren County to improve safety and accessibility.

The Bristow Elementary School project on U.S. Highway 31-W includes a new Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) to serve the school and surrounding neighborhoods, according to a release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. .

“Protecting children is our top priority as we work to ensure that all of our students, parents, teachers and staff have a safe way to get to and from school,” said Governor Beshear. “We are excited that the project has gotten underway and includes an innovative solution to protect Kentuckians.”

Work on US 31-W RCUT began several days ago and motorists will notice lane closures between Lauren Avery Drive (Mile 19) and Kentucky Highway 526/Mt. Olive Road (Mile 6.3). The work should be almost complete when school starts in early August.

In 2021, Governor Beshear announced plans to invest $24.5 million to improve traffic safety near schools and protect families by funding more than 60 traffic safety projects in 43 counties. Safety projects range from new turn lanes and crosswalks to improved intersections, pavement markings and signage. To date, 38 projects have been completed, with 14 more under contract for construction.

Once completed, the new RCUT intersection will serve the Bristow Elementary School entrance as well as Kelly Road and East Heights Avenue by routing traffic using only right turns and U-turns.

“Team Kentucky and the Transportation Cabinet are dedicated to delivering on our promise to provide safe and efficient travel routes to work and school for all residents of the Commonwealth,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray . “Our team is dedicated to bringing this SAFERoad solution and other similar safety projects to schools across our 120 counties.”

RCUTs eliminate crossings perpendicular to each other and allow motorists to focus only on one direction of oncoming traffic at a time, making the intersection safer and easier to navigate.

Improving efficiency is another added benefit, as RCUTs have fewer traffic lights and stops compared to a standard intersection, leading to shorter wait times for motorists. ​Each direction of an RCUT operates independently creating two one-way streets to relieve traffic congestion, improving capacity.

For the Warren County project, Scotty’s Contracting and Stone LLC was awarded the nearly $1 million contract on July 31, 2023. The project is expected to be completed by the end of July.