COVINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 6 is set to begin a roadway reconfiguration project on W. Fourth Street from Garrard Street to Philadelphia Street starting tonight, June 5. The project involves milling and paving operations aimed at enhancing safety for all road users by reducing vehicular lanes and introducing a dedicated bike lane.
The initiative is the result of a year-long collaboration between Covington and KYTC to improve connectivity for diverse modes of transportation. "KYTC and the City have worked together over the past year to realize this realignment of Fourth Street, reclaiming a highway running through the middle of Covington as a safer street for everyone whether they’re on four wheels or two, two legs or four," stated Elizabeth Wetzel, Covington Director of Special Projects & Inter-Governmental Affairs. She noted that additional features like street trees and widened sidewalks have been added alongside reduced vehicular lanes and the new bike lane.
Crews will work overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., resurfacing a stretch of 0.75 miles west of Garrard Street to Philadelphia Street. During evening hours, one lane of traffic will remain open on W. Fourth Street, with two lanes maintained during non-working hours to minimize traffic disruptions.
Bob Yeager, Chief District Engineer for KYTC District 6, explained the project's objectives: "Our goal is to create safer roads for all users. This roadway reconfiguration in Covington will improve safety for bicyclists, and make the road leaner by reducing the lane width for motorists." He emphasized that such engineering solutions are effective in slowing down drivers and improving overall safety.
The plan includes reducing vehicular travel lanes from three to two between Garrard and Johnson Streets, with lane widths narrowed from 12 feet to 11 feet through the corridor. A five-foot-wide bike lane with a two-foot buffer from vehicular traffic will be established in place of the current right lane on W. Fourth Street, designated for westbound bicyclists.
To support these changes, travel lanes will be clearly marked and signage upgraded along W. Fourth Street indicating the new traffic pattern.
The schedule may change due to weather conditions or unforeseen events. For updated information on road construction in Northern Kentucky, visit District 6 Roadshow or Driving Northern Kentucky Progress website.