At this point, much has been said about proposed efforts to lengthen Penny Lane in Williamsburg and particularly how it might impact the Zehr property.
During a recent Williamsburg City Council meeting Mayor Roddy Harrison said that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet wants to extend Penny Lane past the health department, have it turn left and eventually come out onto KY-92W. The new road would go through some of the Zehr property. Eventually, Penny Lane would become a one-way road.
This is currently an eminent domain lawsuit pending in Whitley Circuit Court over efforts by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to obtain the needed property for the road.
The Zehr family, who I understand are very nice people, are not happy with the proposal and with some of the remarks that Harrison has made about the project and it being for the greater good.
As someone who does not have a dog in this fight, let me offer a few observations.
First, I think pretty much everyone in Williamsburg can agree that it is nearly impossible to make a left-handed turn off Penny Lane on KY-92W, even if you could legally make the turn, which you can’t. Something needs to be done to fix this problem. The Mint and Tractor Supply get a lot of business and generate a lot of traffic.
Second, if I were the Zehr family, then I probably wouldn’t want to have a road going through my property near my home either.
Third, if the city had primary control of this process, then a traffic light would have been installed at the intersection of Penny Lane and KY-92W a long time ago. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has made it pretty clear that it is NOT going to install a traffic light there. Traffic from the I-75 off-ramps could realistically back up onto the interstate with a traffic light.
Fourth, I don’t think it is a good idea to route all the traffic from Penny Lane through what is essentially the parking lot of the Kentucky Splash waterpark and back out onto KY-92W that way. This might work nine months out of the year, but what about summer when the waterpark and campground are packed?
In essence, you would be routing hundreds of vehicles a day – more if Penny Lane becomes one-way – right next to a parking lot packed with screaming little kids running around all over the place. All it takes is one little kid running out in front a vehicle for tragedy to strike. This would be an accident waiting to happen and a preventable one at that.
Fifth, I hope everybody just takes a breath, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and others can perhaps come up with a compromise that will solve the problem. One of the more intriguing comments that I saw on Facebook suggested extending Balltown Road, which is off Penny Lane, past Liquor Barn and have it coming out on KY-92W.
Now let me touch on a few other things before I conclude this column.
• Former Williamsburg Independent Schools principal and teacher Joy Mack recently addressed the school board over what she correctly described as disappointing test results. For instance, only 30 percent of high schoolers scored proficient in reading and another 5 percent scored as distinguished. This means that 65 percent of students did not reach that level.
“If you weren’t embarrassed or devastated, you’re probably part of the problem,” she told the school board about test score results.
She also encouraged better communication with parents. In addition, she pointed out inadequate teacher pay and the need to increase it over the next few years so the district can retain good teachers.
Based upon her remarks, one has to wonder if Mack might consider a run for school board? She would be a good school board member if she were to run and get elected. There are few people that understand this school district like Mack does and have the same passion for the kids that she does.
There was a time about 30 years ago when Williamsburg had some of the top scores in the state. I, personally, would love to see Williamsburg get back to that point.
• Finally, let me say a big thank you to all the road crews and electrical linemen out there who cleared off roads, removed fallen trees and restored power during the recent winter storm. Your efforts are appreciated.
