From the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Highways District 12:

Construction under way on US 460 - US 23 interchange

PIKE COUNTY – February 14, 2011 – Work is under way on the mega-interchange that will connect new US 460 to US 23. Bizzack, the state’s successful bidder on the project, moved onto the Sookey’s Creek site today to begin construction on what is estimated to be a two-year project.

Traffic impacts will be felt almost immediately, as more than two million yards of dirt and rock will be hauled across US 23 to clear the way for the interchange.

A crossing will be established on either end of a cut in the mountain near the new US 460 bridge at Sookey’s Creek. When blasting starts in the area, it will be confined between the hours of 6:30 -8:30 a.m., 2:30-5:30 p.m., and after dark. Road closures will occur at the time of each pre-scheduled blasting operation. The road closures should be brief, and even the longest ones should last no more than 20 minutes.

A lowered speed limit with enforced double fines will govern traffic, which will be reduced from four lanes to two.

For a short period time, traffic will be routed to the slow/outside lanes while a median barrier wall is installed. Once the wall is finished, traffic will be moved to the passing/inside lanes, although there will be no passing allowed until the interchange work is completed.

The $28.8-million project was awarded to Bizzack Construction December 28. Bush & Burchett serves as a subcontractor for bridge work on the project.

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Photo 1: Transportation Cabinet engineers meet with representatives of Bizzack Construction, prime contractor for the interchange that will connect US 23 to new US 460 at Sookey’s Creek, south of Pikeville. Bizzack moved onto the site Monday, February 14. The $28.8-million project is expected to take two years to complete. (Photo by Sara George/Highway District 12)

Photo 2: The Jasper and Anna Justice Memorial Bridge has stood at Sookey’s Creek for several years, not connected to a highway. Work started Monday, February 14, on the new US 23/US 460 Interchange, which will make this bridge and the rest of new US 460 accessible from US 23 south of Pikeville. (Photo by Keith Damron/Kentucky Transportation Cabinet)