Plans to improve KY 2533/Dean Road available to view, comment

A public hearing was held on June 20 to discuss plans for improvements to KY 2533, also known as Dean Road, in Greenville. The route starts at the intersection with the KY 189 Bypass, crosses a low lying basin before climbing and winding through the hillside to let out at the intersection with KY 181.

The KY 2533 Improvement Project was presented at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is located on Dean Road. Engineers from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Palmer Engineering were on hand to answer questions from the public.

The goal of the project is to address safety concerns due to narrow lanes with non-traversable roadside conditions, sharp horizontal and vertical curves, limited sight distance and flooding issues at the southern half of the project.

Alternative #1. (Photo/Palmer Engineering)

Improvements will also make the Muhlenberg Business Park more accessible.

The two-lane, rural roadway carries approximately 1,600 vehicles per day, and while not posted, the regulatory speed limit is 55 mph. Some curves have speed warning signs posted for as low as 20 mph.

The northern portion of the route has several curves that do not meet engineering criteria for a 55 mph design speed and the curves present safety issues due to substandard sight distances.

The transportation cabinet offered two versions for consideration by the public. Proposed reconstruction options involve improvements to the existing alignment for the full length of the corridor, including vertical and horizontal alignment to provide at least a 40 mph design speed.

Shoulder and roadside width will be addressed in two different circumstances, with rural roadway and urban roadway alternatives proposed. Wider lanes, shoulders and ditch slopes are part of both plans.

Alternative #2. (Photo/Palmer Engineering)

Where Dean Road meets KY 181, there are two different design proposals, both greatly changing the route. Alternative #1 reconstructs KY 2533 but maintains the same intersection with KY 181, while Alternative #2 moves the proposed intersection approximately 900 feet south of the existing intersection.

Both options for the intersection with KY 181 rely on the grade of KY 181 being lowered by a separate reconstruction project. Both also include a connection back to the old KY 2533 near Duvall’s Chapel Church.

There are also two alternatives proposed for the intersection with Opportunity Way, both including a three-lane section on KY 2533. Alternative #1 maintains the existing location, adding a right turn lane on KY 2533 and Opportunity Way. Alternative #2 shifts Opportunity Way 50 feet from the intersection with KY 189, adding a left turn lane on KY 2533.

The preferred alternatives will move forward to final design, with no date set to begin construction. It is estimated construction would begin no earlier than 2024.

For those unable to attend the public meeting, meeting materials are available online at https://files.palmernet.com/url/ky2533publicmtg and a survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KY-2533 to be completed by July 5.