It was a packed house for a public meeting held March 27 at La Grange Presbyterian Church for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to share plans for potential widening and improvements to KY 53 south of Interstate 71 from Zhale Smith Road, across from German American Bank, to KY 22 at Ballardsville in Oldham County.

KYTC is exploring alternatives to increase safety and improved capacity by widening KY 53, adding a paved two-way left turn lane and realigning key areas. The cabinet is also investigating costs and impacts to utility facilities and properties associated with these solutions — including the consideration of environmental constraints and community perspectives.

The public meeting, with more than 150 people in attendance, was held last month to share information about the project first started in 2008, review proposed alignments and gather input from residents and motorists. Handouts containing information about the project were distributed and representatives from KYTC were in attendance to answer questions from residents and roadway users.

Magistrate Kevin Jeffries said most of those that attended the meeting were “concerned” about the project. “I didn’t hear a lot of support for it [from those in attendance] but there were some folks that were that said, ‘we think this would be great and you know we have a lot of traffic on 53 now.’ ”

Jeffries said those along 53 are most concerned as they might lose some property or a right-away, and one possible house, with the moving of 53 once the project gets underway. “Some were asking, ‘Am I going to lose part of my property?’ And, I think there is one house that will be affected directly if they stay with the alignment they are proposing.”

Two of those individuals who would be directly affected by the current plan wrote letters to the newspaper this week that can be found on page A5.

Don Chesak says the current plan would cut the “dream farm” he and his wife have worked their entire lives to obtain in half. He also worries that the project would greatly increase truck traffic to the area, “Once the new Ky 53 is complete from I-64 to I-71, the entire trucking industry is going to use it as a shortcut. Trucking traffic is going to increase at least 10-fold!”

Ballardsville resident Weasie Gaines is asking KYTC to seek other fixes and said the project would also destroy her land. “The proposed route will plow through our three largest and most profitable fields only to continue straight down the middle of 15 acres of stunning woodland, over Camp Creek and onto our neighbors’ property, who are close to completing building their dream home. The road will continue its destruction through other homes and farms that our neighbors have worked through blood, sweat and tears to make a life in the country for themselves.”

A group Facebook page “Building a Better Ballardsville — Oldham County” created more than a year ago has become a page to mobilize those affected by the project. The page currently has over 500 members.

Those in favor of improving 53 want to see the road made safer, have less mailboxes routinely knocked down and would like to see shoulders or emergency lanes put in.

Project developers say the plan presents an opportunity to continue improvements of KY 53 toward Shelbyville in the future, provides the best access to planned and current schools on KY 22 west, has the lowest utility relocation costs and provides a “Main Street” area through the town of Ballardsville from the remnants of the existing KY 53.

As for a timeline, KYTC says a final design will be determined in 2024, following public outreach, with right-of-way acquisition following in 2025, utility relocations in 2026 and construction targeted to begin in 2027.

Those who live or work near KY 53, or travel the road regularly, are asked to complete a survey online at tinyurl.com/4r2xnsyd. Input received from the public meeting and survey will be compiled and considered by KYTC. The survey will be open until April 27.

Have your say Those who live or work near KY 53, or travel the road regularly, are asked to complete a survey online at tinyurl.com/4r2xnsyd. Input received from the public meeting and survey will be compiled and considered by KYTC. The survey will be open until April 27. {related_content_uuid}729b497b-bb5d-4e8d-a235-b1e5e72f2bae{/related_content_uuid}