Orange barrels will become a familiar sight to motorists in Benton as the state has started expansion work on 5th Street. Construction is expected to run through fall 2019.
Work along Ky. 348/5th Street in Benton began this week with traffic lanes shifting. It’s part of a previously delayed widening project expected to last through 2019.
According to Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the project will ultimately expand 5th Street to four lanes from the current two lane traffic with a center turn lane. Traffic was shifted about 8 feet on Monday to allow drain pipe installation and other earthwork activities. Existing lanes have been restricted to a maximum 10 feet width.
Traffic will remain in this configuration for most of the summer construction season.
Michael Oliver with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet told the Marshall County Fiscal Court earlier this month that the project would cost about $4.4 million, excluding the cost of utilities and right-of-ways.