Roadwork is underway in Downtown Beaver Dam

Signs, orange cones and caution tape are in place along Main Street/U.S. 231 in downtown Beaver Dam as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet began a reconstruction project on drainage issues, curb gutter and resurfacing.

The project, which will result in closures at times during the project, got underway March 6 and is scheduled for completion in June.

Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur said Tuesday morning that there will be two periods of time when the road will be closed for all traffic for 16 days in two different phases. The first phase will be from just north of Main Street’s intersection with U.S. Highway 62 West to just south of West Fourth Street. The second phase will be from West Fourth Street to just south of the intersection of Seventh Street (Goshen Road). Goshen Road will still be accessible. The date for those closures has not been announced.

According to Sandefur, the contractor is currently working on the section of Main Street downtown between Highway 62 West and Fourth Street. Initial work will include cutting out and removing the concrete curbing. Excavations will take place for the placement of new storm water drop boxes and after that, excavations will be made along the sidewalk to lay the new storm water drain piping. Once that work is completed, Sandefur said the drop boxes will be installed and the storm water piping connections will be made. When the work on that portion of the roadway is complete, the same procedures will be followed for the street between Fourth Street and Goshen Road.

After installation of the storm drain system, new curb and gutters will be placed, the highway will be excavated out approximately two feet deep, backfilled with larger stone, filter cloth and then dense grade stone. Two lifts of asphalt base will be placed on top of the stone. Once all construction is completed, the entire roadway will receive a final asphalt surface.

“They are doing all new storm drains down through there,” Sandefur said. “The problem with the road that has caused it to be in such bad shape has been the issue with drainage and the water.”

Sandefur said some of the drainage systems have been in place since the 1930s and there have been some that have caved in or pulled apart.

Sandefur said that downtown businesses will be impacted slightly by the road and sidewalk closures, but that most have access through the back of their locations from the back allies.

“There will probably still be places where you can use a portion of the sidewalks, but you will still have to park in the back alley,” he said. “The harder part will be between Fourth Street and Seventh Street. That’s where you’ve got Hair Graphics and Midtown Pharmacy and a couple of residences that don’t have a back alley entrance, but it is in the construction documents that the contractor has to provide access to all of those businesses and residences in those areas.”

He said that could be a piece of metal plating over an open ditch or a gravel ramp, but the contractor has pledged to work with the property owners as best as they can to provide access.

According to Sandefur, truck traffic will be rerouted around via U.S. Highway 231 North, Highway 69, Interstate-165 and the Western Kentucky Parkway. Vehicle traffic will most likely be routed around via Goshen Road, Ridgecrest Drive and Highway 62.

Weather conditions and other issues encountered could affect plans and schedules.

“Traffic in Beaver Dam will be pretty rough for a while, but all should be in agreement that the end product will be good for the residents and the visitors to our community,” Sandefur said. “It’s going to be really nice when they get it done.”