LEXINGTON,Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has teamed up with the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning organization for roadway safety and mobility improvements in the new Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity Study.

The two organization-partnership formed the Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity study. It aims to make travel to and from Jessamine and Fayette county more accessible and safer. 

Cars driving on Nicholasville road with medium congestion. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

Some have said the Jessamine-Fayette county area is the busiest in central Kentucky, with morning and evening times being the busiest time for travel for those commuting to and from work.

Residents like Virgie Devney have changed commuting routes to avoid congested times in the area.

“I need to avoid the traffic because I go to work, especially in the afternoon between five to six,” Devney said.

The traffic Virgie Devney is referring to is taking place right between Jessamine and Fayette counties. 

With some residents voicing their concerns, it has prompted KYTC to call on the public for ideas and ways to improve the flow of traffic. For Kentucky Transportation Cabinet public information officer Natasha Lacy, there are even more specific areas that need extra attention when examining where the most congestion between Jessemaine-Fayette counties lies.

The project would impact a large area in central Kentucky. (KYTC)

“So what we are looking at are different alternatives or connector situations from Maple Street and Southpoint Drive in downtown Nicholasville. And that would reach in Fayette county to Athens-Boonesboro Road and Clays Ferry Road,” Lacy said.

Last year, KYTC sent out a survey in which 75% of respondents in the area noted improvements for this connectivity are urgently needed. 

In that same survey, the biggest concerns voiced from residents were increasing congestion, narrow lanes, shoulders and too many cars using local roads. 

“Our study showed that growth is going to be tremendous between the stretch of area of Jessamine and Fayette county. And it has already grown tremendously in the last 10 years,” Lacy said.

Researchers say the population of Jessamine county is expected to increase by 40 percent while Fayette county is expected to increase by 33 percent by the year 2040.

“We are going to show what we’ve collected from the survey and from the public and also some different diagrams that could help with traffic,” Lacy said.

Residents said the improvements to the Jessamine-Fayette connectivity cannot come soon enough.

“Well I think it is better if there are adjustments over there. Oh wow, it will be great to not have any more traffic over there,” said Devney.

KYTC will stay in the planning phase of the Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity project until funding is granted.