Public Awareness during Construction of the Shawnee Expressway Rehabilitation

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Public Awareness during Construction of the
Shawnee Expressway Rehabilitation

• Andrea Clifford
• Public Information Officer
• Kentucky Department of Highways
• Louisville District

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Project Description

• Rehabilitation of 7.76 miles of Interstate 264 in
  the west end of Louisville
• Upgrading of the roadway, medians, 5
  interchanges, lighting, guardrails, 60 bridges
• 60,000 ADT
• 500 working days to complete project
• Largest contract ever let by Kentucky
  Transportation Cabinet - 66 million

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Pre-Construction

• Employed the services of a public involvement
  consultant, Charles Ryan Associates of
  Charleston, WV
• Received input from state senator regarding
  maintenance of traffic, landscaping community
  involvement
• Conducted two focus groups
• persons living in the project area
• persons who travel through the project area

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Pre-Construction

• Formed stakeholders group

• Developed project web-site
  www.264info.com

• Established project hotline [phone]

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Stakeholders Group

• Representatives from 12 neighborhood associations
  and 6 business associations in project corridor
• Elected officials invited to attend
• Communicate project information to the areas they
  represent
• Provide ideas and feedback regarding landscaping
  plans

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Stakeholders Group Communication

• Monthly Meetings

• Construction Updates

• Traffic Advisories through e-mail, fax mail

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Public Meeting

• Provide opportunity for public input on
  landscaping concepts
• Advertised via radio and newspaper
• Poor attendance

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Project Web-site

• Background
• Current traffic information
• Project timeline
• Minutes from stakeholders group
• Contact information

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Project Web-Site
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Project Web-Site
Current traffic information was provided via the
web-site and by a recorded message on the project
hotline.
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Project Web-Site
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Project Web-site

• Public could send comments and questions via
  web-site
• Developed a Frequently Asked Questions page
• Due to many requests from the public and an
  increased number of accidents, extra law
  enforcement was employed

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Media Usage

• Media interviews at project milestones
• project beginning
• safety initiative
• holiday travel periods
• project completion
• Print and radio advertisements

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Media Usage
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Media Usage
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Successful Completion

• Project completed 2.5 days early
• Ribbon cutting held August 11, 2004
• Approximately 100 people in attendance
• Positive feedback from stakeholders and the
  community

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Lessons Learned

• Know the issues in the project area and try to
  address them prior to construction.
• Work with businesses and industrial areas on
  traffic maintenance plans prior to construction.
• Public input is valuable on every project, not
  just those where right-of-way is being acquired.

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Working with our communities and motorists can
aid the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in
providing

• a safe, reliable and efficient transportation
  system that improves the overall quality of life.