A portion of Newtown Pike will be widened to five lanes near the new Bluegrass Community and Technical College campus.

The state Transportation Cabinet announced the $3 million project, which will widen Newtown Pike from West Fourth Street to West Loudon Avenue, on Monday.

The goal is to improve safety and access to the campus, which is scheduled to open in the fall on the property now occupied by Eastern State Hospital.

Preliminary work for the road project, including removal of a historic fence, began Wednesday. The project is scheduled to be finished by Dec. 15.

Bluegrass Contracting Corp. is doing the work.