Courthouse construction brings parking, traffic changes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Parking and traffic patterns around the Historic Courthouse on Main Street will change beginning in early June because of extensive work on the 116-year-old building.

Parking changes include:

• Parking spaces on the Courthouse side of Upper Street, between Short and Main streets, will be moved north on Upper Street to the block between Church and Short streets. No parking spaces on Upper Street will be lost.

• Upper Street will have one lane of traffic between Church and Short streets, and the timing of the traffic signal at Short Street will be altered to accommodate the new traffic flow.

• The right hand lane of Upper Street, between Second and Church streets, will become a right-turn only lane.

• The sidewalk on the Courthouse side of Upper Street, between Short and Main streets, will be closed throughout the construction.

• The four parking spaces on the Courthouse side of Short Street, between Mill and Upper streets, will be unavailable after July 4 for the duration of construction, as will access to the Short Street sidewalk adjacent to the Courthouse lawn from Market Street to the corner of Upper and Short streets.

Several trees will be removed from the site. An ash tree infested with emerald ash borer will be removed. The city will attempt to transplant trees that are healthy enough to survive a move, including the spruce tree on the Main Street side. Other trees may be removed as necessary.

Several historic markers on the site will be removed and stored to protect them from the construction. The John Hunt Morgan statue and Ellis Fountain will stay in place, but will be protected from construction activities.

The Courthouse project is scheduled for completion in 2018. Plans for the renovated building include offices, a restaurant, an event venue and visitor attractions.