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Following extensive planning, the $20 million Riverfront Commons project, which aims to improve transportation options and construct a new pier for riverboat excursions in Paducah, Kentucky, was scheduled to start last week.
According to the city’s statement, the project will take 18 to 24 months to complete.
Key features of the Riverfront Commons project:
Riverboat Excursion Pier and Plaza
This new docking point will make it easier and safer for visitors to access downtown from the riverboats. Currently, passengers must navigate a steep slope, but the new pier will upgrade arrivals and departures.
Bike, Pedestrian, and Broadband Linkages
A multi-use path will be developed, improving pedestrian and bike access. Enhancements will include improving intersections, signage and directional guidance, bus shelters, and crosswalks. Additionally, broadband infrastructure improvements will support emergency services and security along the riverfront.
Improvements to the Transient Boat Dock Landing
Upgrades will connect sidewalks from the floodwall to the 5-mile Greenway Trail, improve traffic management, add landscaping for erosion control, and provide amenities for users of the transient boat dock.
An image from the Riverfront Small Area Master Plan submitted to the City of Paducah in 2016 shows a project overview. The plan was a collaboration between the design firm RATIO and Paducah County administrators. Image: City of Paducah, KY
Jim Smith Contracting was awarded the contract earlier this month to carry out the project for over $20 million. According to its website, the Grand Rivers, Kentucky, company focuses on asphalt paving, grading and drainage, bridge construction, and trucking services.
The City of Paducah said it is receiving some project funding from the BUILD Grant program, with $10.4 million allocated for the Riverfront Commons project. This funding was approved after the city applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation in July 2019.
The BUILD program of the U.S. Department of Transportation is now named the RAISE program, Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity. It provides grants for surface transportation infrastructure projects with significant local or regional impact.
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