# Lexington Progress Projects Advance With Sound Walls, New Lanes  
**Published:** 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z  
**Source:** [KYTC District 7 Press Releases](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/bulletins/412ecba)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/lexington-progress-projects-advance-with-sound-walls-new-lanes

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Major infrastructure improvements are advancing on the [Driving Lexington Progress project](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/bulletins/412ecba), a $168 million investment that includes new travel lanes, a redesigned interchange and long-awaited noise barriers for the Meadowthorpe neighborhood. Work is progressing along New Circle Road at Leestown, Interstate 75 and Newtown Pike to enhance safety and support the city's continued growth.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that 3,760 feet of sound walls are now under construction between Meadowthorpe and New Circle Road, fulfilling a promise made to residents who have endured decades of traffic noise. [Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray](https://transportation.ky.gov/Secretary/Pages/default.aspx) said the noise reduction project represents a commitment to modernizing infrastructure while meeting community needs. "We're especially proud to have worked alongside Meadowthorpe residents and their representatives to deliver not just safety and traffic upgrades but also a reduction in traffic noise," Gray said.

State Sen. Reginald Thomas, who represents the area, emphasized the significance of the project for the neighborhood that sits directly adjacent to New Circle Road. "When New Circle was built, Meadowthorpe was the only residential neighborhood right next to it, and it is very deserving of a sound barrier wall," Thomas said, noting that residents have advocated for the improvement "over a long period of time."

The $51 million New Circle widening project will add travel lanes in each direction between Leestown Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, and convert the Leestown interchange to a Double Crossover Diamond design that reduces conflict points and shortening signal wait times. Crews are also completing a reinforced retaining wall on the outer loop and advancing bridge construction work. Originally scheduled for completion in summer 2027, the project is now expected to finish by spring 2027.

Interstate 75 improvements are also progressing, with two back-to-back widening projects adding a fourth lane in each direction between Newtown Pike and the Southern Split. The $89 million investment includes sound wall construction, bridge widening and overlay work. The project is slated for completion this fall.

Work on the [Newtown Pike widening](https://www.drivinglexingtonprogress.org/) will continue this spring, with a tunnel under Newtown Pike for the Legacy Trail beginning construction soon. The $28 million project will add one lane in each direction from I-75 to New Circle Road and include a new 12-foot by 8-foot pedestrian and bicycle underpass with trail improvements designed to serve the area's anticipated 70,000-plus daily travelers by 2030.

## Sources

- [KYTC District 7 Press Releases](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/bulletins/412ecba)
- [Official Driving Lexington Progress project information and updates](https://www.drivinglexingtonprogress.org/)
- [Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray office and background](https://transportation.ky.gov/Secretary/Pages/default.aspx)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KYTC District 7 Press Releases, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/bulletins/412ecba.