The City of Owensboro is purchasing a small piece of land at the intersection of Carter Road and West Parrish Avenue to help accommodate growing traffic demand in the area.
The City plans to construct an additional lane for southbound traffic on Carter, turning west onto West Parrish or staying straight on Carter. The lane will be built on a 0.093-acre strip of land currently owned by Rajesal Properties, LLC, located at 2745 West Parrish Avenue. The land is being sold to the City for $25,000.
Assistant City Manager Lelan Hancock said the infrastructure improvement is tied to continued development in the area, including the construction of a new Publix grocery store on Carter.
“With all the development going on in the West End, you’re going to need more ability for that right-hand turn,” Hancock said. “The car washes are there, traffic is increasing — which is a good thing — but that turning lane was needed and warranted.”
According to Hancock, utilities on the western side of Carter Road are being relocated to the east to make room for the project. The City is also working with Murphy Construction to handle demolition and curb work, with the city completing stormwater and paving.
The strip of land being acquired is part of a larger tract owned by a group led by Deval Patel, which also owns the adjacent gas station and former bank building on the corner of the intersection.
Patel confirmed that the existing bank building will be demolished in the next couple of months. While final development plans are still being decided, Patel said the group is likely to own and operate the new business or businesses on the site.
“Publix being announced is going to bring a lot of traffic through there, so [the turn lane is] definitely much needed,” Patel said. “We’re excited about the development happening on the west side of town.”
Hancock said City officials and property owners have worked together to ensure the parcel sale and road project won’t compromise the larger development plans for the site.
“We wanted the property to stay as large as it could, and so did the property owner,” Hancock said. “It’s a good mix between the two. Everybody’s going to win, from the traffic pulling out of Carter and Parrish to the new grocery development and future projects coming there.”
Patel’s team has been involved in several successful developments around town, including the Barrell Head, Take 10, and Little Caesars property in the Gateway Commons.
“They know what works for them, they know the market, and they’ve been great to deal with,” Hancock said. “I think they’ve got a good development plan.”
