T-intersection planned for northern tie-in
by Kate Shunney
Construction of the northern half of the U.S. 522 Bypass is on schedule, according to District 5 Division of Highways Supervisor Lee Thorne, and is on track to be completed in October of 2027.
“They may very well beat that date,” Thorne said in a phone conversation with The Morgan Messenger late last week.
Thorne said currently there is some switching of traffic to allow paving at Sherrill Lane, where the bypass cuts through a residential area on the northern end of Jimstown.
In response to questions about the design of the northern bypass and how it will reconnect to U.S. 522, Thorne said the plans are in flux as this is a Design/Build contract. That means contractor A.L.L. Construction can design the exact routes and features as they build the road.
“Right now it’s planned to be a T-intersection,” Thorne said of the connection point back to the existing U.S. 522.
That would mean traffic coming off the bypass going to U.S. 522 would come to a stop, then utilize turn lanes to proceed in either direction.
A roundabout, similar to the one on the southern start of the bypass, was considered as a potential option. Thorne said engineers are concerned that the grades of the roadways won’t come together in a way that could include a roundabout because of the steep grade approaching U.S. 522.
Thorne said a lot of excess materials from excavation is going to the area around War Memorial Hospital, creating additional flat ground around that facility.
A hospital connector road off the bypass will take traffic directly to the hospital when complete.
