ASHLAND, Ky. — A series of traffic roundabouts and rear-angled parking are on the menu for renovations on Winchester Avenue in the coming years, per a presentation made Thursday at the Ashland City Commission meeting.
The idea behind the move is to continue the push toward making downtown Ashland a destination spot for the area, where people could spend an afternoon dining and shopping. On Thursday, that idea got a bit more concrete when Stephen Sewell, an engineer with Palmer Engineering, presented finds and proposed plans made from a recent traffic study.
Mayor Matthew B. Perkins said the updates have been needed for a long time.
“For years, people have said Ashland needs to update its image and look to keep up with the times,” Perkins said. “I think this project is a symbol of our dedication to that and making downtown more walkable and accessible for all.”
Perkins continued, “I am proud of our staff for moving forward on this.”
Commissioner Josh Blanton said the move is a way to change “the skeleton of the body” for the city of Ashland.
“If we can modify the skeleton, more creative things will rise from it,” Blanton said.
Commisioner Cheryl Spriggs said she’s excited “about the whole ball of wax.”
“I am thrilled because this has been a long time coming,” Spriggs said. “It’s a big part of the puzzle for what we need to do in order to revitalize our downtown. I’m just so happy to see this moving forward.”