New Circle ramps onto busy Lexington road reopen early. The work isn’t done yet
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- New Circle Road ramps at Leestown Road reopened for right turns 10 days early.
- Contractors convert Leestown interchange to double-crossover diamond to reduce delays.
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet targets completion summer 2027; two lanes by end of year.
The New Circle Road entrance and exit ramps at Leestown Road partially reopened Sunday after being closed for about a week, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The ramps reopened to right turns only around 5 p.m. Oct. 16, 10 days ahead of schedule. Drivers are limited to right turns to and from Leestown Road as crews switch traffic on the street from the far-left lane to the right lane, the transportation cabinet said.
Left turns to and from Leestown Road were originally supposed to be restricted until Friday, Dec. 5. The transportation cabinet said updates on when left turns will be allowed will be announced as the project progresses.
Closing the ramps helped crews to widen the interchange and expedite the project, KYTC said. Workers are converting the Leestown-New Circle Road interchange into a double-crossover diamond, one with two signalized intersections where traffic crosses over to the left side of the roadway, then back over to the right as it exits.
According to the transportation cabinet, these types of interchanges offer fewer delays, improved safety and lower potential crash points. Construction is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
KYTC said it hopes to return Leestown Road traffic to two lanes in each direction by the end of the year.
