State transportation officials are proposing a roughly two-mile extension of Ring Road (KY-3005) that would run from the Western Kentucky Parkway interchange to a new interchange at Interstate 65 and then connect to U.S. 31-W.
The extension is designed to distribute traffic more evenly across area interchanges and improve access to southern Elizabethtown.
“There’s a lot of extra traffic in that area of the county, and so this is the state’s response to that,” Hardin County Judge Executive Keith Taul said. “A lot of people use it to get to and from work from all over the county. So this will be helpful for those coming from the southern part of the county — even from adjacent counties — to work in Elizabethtown.”
This project comes during ongoing efforts to revitalize southern Elizabethtown. City leaders have spent several years trying to develop the area to mirror the north side, where restaurants and hotels surround the interstate exits.
The city has already invested $4 million to upgrade utilities, and another $11 million from the state will support major infrastructure upgrades. A new hotel development on 31-W was also announced in October.
Officials say the project aligns with the region’s rapid growth.
“This is a county in transition,” Taul said. “There is a lot of growth going on, and we have to try to stay ahead of it with some of the improvements that need to happen.”
Businesses in the southern part of Elizabethtown welcome the proposed extension. Sportsmans Rod & Gun owner JJ Akins said the shop has operated at its current location for five years and believes improved access will attract more customers.
“We are the largest gun shop in Hardin County,” Akins said. “It’s going to give our customers easier access to us, not only from I-65, but also from other parts of southern Hardin County.”
The proposed extension would connect to 31-W just south of the Akins property.
“It’s all about exposure and traffic count, and we have good traffic now, but I think the expansion of Ring Road will help us increase that even more,” he said.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will need to acquire private land within the 75-acre project area. Some residents affected expressed concern.
“That’s the downside. It’s not a huge number of homes, but if it’s my home, then it’s very disruptive to have to move and go somewhere else,” one resident said. “It’s hard to come up with a solution that is positive across the board.”
There is no construction timeline yet. Officials are currently seeking public input on the environmental assessment. A public meeting was held November 18, and written comments will be accepted until December 3 at the Kentucky Department of Highways, District 4, 634 E. Dixie Avenue, Elizabethtown, KY 42701, addressed to Joseph Ferguson.
The estimated cost of the Ring Road extension is about $36 million.
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