Clays Mill Road
The city recently completed phase three of four on the Clays Mill Road project — opening back up the Lane Allen/Rosemont Garden + Clays Mill intersection.
Here are a few new additions to the road we’re seeing:
- A middle turn lane has been added throughout
- Bike lanes on both sides of Clays Mill Road
- Five-foot sidewalks also on both sides of Clays Mill Road
Construction will now begin on the fourth, and final, phase of this project — resulting in a road closure between the intersections of Harrodsburg Road + Lane Allen/Rosemont Garden. This section is expected to be completed in 2023.
Southland Park
Now, here’s the really exciting part.
The completion of phase three means that access to Southland Park is now easier for both motorists + pedestrians. Because more Lexingtonians will now want to be utilizing this park, we checked in with the city to get an update on the Southland Park improvements project.
“The park has been redesigned for detention basins to help flooding in the Southland neighborhood,” said Mark Sanders, Engineering Section Manager for the Division of Water Quality.
Essentially, the city is redirecting stormwater run-off into Southland Park. This additional water will be used to grow + water a new nature-scape within the park — think natural springs, trees, native plants + walking paths.
The contractors on this project are entering the home stretch — the aim being to “turn the park back over to the city for public use no later than Labor Day,” said Mark.
That being said, nature grows at its own pace — you can’t rush art. “The contractor will come back in the fall — October or November — and finish his plantings, so next spring everything should be in place.”