A planned roundabout at the intersection of Fairview Drive and Settles Road is set to become a key feature of a major highway improvement project now moving through early design stages. Meanwhile, a separate roundabout project at the intersection of Fairview and Old Hartford Road is set to begin next month and finish later this year.
The roundabout at Fairview and Settles will be part of a bigger Kentucky Transportation Cabinet project. KYTC will widen and upgrade just over a mile of Fairview (KY 3143) between Settles Road (KY 3335) and KY 54. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the roundabout will improve intersection alignment, reduce the steep grade that currently exists, and significantly enhance traffic safety and flow along a rapidly developing corridor.
“Roundabouts are a nationally proven safety countermeasure,” said Matt Hughes, public information officer for KYTC District 2.
Hughes said studies show roundabouts reduce crashes by about 37 percent and can reduce fatalities by as much as 90 percent by eliminating many of the conflict points that lead to right-angle, or “T-bone,” crashes.
According to state and county officials, in addition to the roundabout, the project includes widening the roadway, adding a two-way left-turn lane along much of the corridor, and making drainage improvements such as new curb inlets, culvert replacements, and storm sewer upgrades.
Pedestrian infrastructure is also a major component of the design. Plans call for sidewalks and urban curb and gutter sections on the left side of Fairview Drive from Hillbrooke Parkway to Brooks Parkway. From Brooks Parkway to the Greenbelt parking area, the project would include a sidewalk on the left side and a shared-use path on the right, improving access and safety for pedestrians traveling to and from the Greenbelt. Roadway grades and access points will be adjusted to further enhance pedestrian safety.
A more rural cross-section is planned for the segment between KY 3335 and Hillbrooke Parkway, which would not include sidewalks.
Traffic counts along the stretch of Fairview from Settles to KY 54 have climbed steadily, increasing from 6,774 vehicles per day in 2020 to 8,564 vehicles per day in 2024, reinforcing the need for long-term improvements, Hughes said.
Engineers are currently finalizing design details and beginning right-of-way and utility coordination. Construction is tentatively anticipated to begin in mid-to-late 2027, though that timeline could shift depending on right-of-way needs, utility relocation, and funding availability.
As part of the project, KYTC plans to construct a new entrance to Horse Fork Creek Park early in the construction phase. Once that entrance is open, two existing entrances closest to the Greenbelt will close permanently. Specific design details near the park are still being finalized, but will focus on improving access and safety for both vehicles and pedestrians, Hughes said.
Earlier this week, the Daviess County Fiscal Court approved a resolution related to KYTC’s request for right-of-way acquisition near Horse Fork Creek Park. The acquisition is necessary to accommodate roadway widening in that area and affects County-owned property at the park as well as the nearby Thompson Building. The state has offered $568,600 for the property to be acquired, County officials said.
KYTC officials emphasized that the roundabout planned at Fairview Drive and Settles Road is separate from another upcoming roundabout project at Fairview Drive and Old Hartford Road. That project is scheduled to begin March 1 and is expected to be completed by mid-November. More details on that separate project can be found here.
