Photo credit: Jason Steffen
Photo credit: Steffen. 

Would a guardrail have prevented the fatal accident on Memorial Parkway earlier this summer? State Senator candidate, Jason Steffen, believes that it would.

Steffen sent a letter to Robert Hand, who works with the Department of Highways. Because Memorial Parkway is a state route, it would be handled by this department, not the city.

Memorial Parkway is also the site in Fort Thomas that the majority of deer-related crashes occur. The City of Fort Thomas has indicated that through the paid deer census, the population of the herd has decreased, yet crashes are increasing. The presumption, then, is that either the deer census is inaccurate or traffic has increased on Memorial Parkway.

Here is Steffen’s letter

Mr. Robert HandAugust 23, 2014

Department of Highways, District Six

421 Buttermilk Pike

Covington, KY 41017

RE: Guard Rail—KY 1120

Dear Mr. Hand:

With the fatal accident on Memorial Parkway (KY 1120) earlier this summer, it is my belief that this portion of the highway needs a guard rail.  It is my understanding that this was not the first accident on the site by the reservoir.

As 1120 is a state highway, it would be the responsibility of the Kentucky Department of Transportation to determine the need and to install one at this location.  It is my belief that the installation of a guardrail would prevent a future fatal accident.  There is a significant drop off from the road surface to the reservoir fence as seen in the attached photographs.  It should be noted that I am over 6’3’’ tall and the drop off is significantly deeper than that.

As a resident of Ft Thomas, I am requesting that the Kentucky Department of Highway examine this location and install a guardrail for the safety of the community that uses 1120.

Thank-you for your anticipated attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

JASON STEFFEN

Photo credit: Jason Steffen

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