Work on Wathen Lane, which was scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, won’t be finished until next year, according to Henderson City Manager Buzzy Newman.
The work was being done by Owensboro company Yager Materials, which was sold in the summer to a European firm. Though that had caused some delays, local officials still expected that the work would be completed by the end of the year.
But on Monday, the city received a letter that Yager (still using the name Yager) had assigned “the construction contract, associated subcontracts, and all HMA mix designs to Hinkle Contracting Company, LLC for the Wathen Lane Upgrade project,” said a release from the city.
As such, the city and Hinkle will sign a contract for the company to accept the terms of the previous contract with Yager, Newman said.
Newman, already exasperated at the project which has been in the works for more than a half-dozen years, said in Tuesday’s city commission meeting that residents will begin to see Yager equipment move out and Hinkle equipment move in.
More importantly, the project won’t be completed till next spring, Newman said. He did add, however, that the road will be driveable throughout the winter and the only part of the project that will remain is putting the top layers of asphalt on the road, which should take a couple of days in the spring.
The details of the Wathen Lane roadway construction project, which were announced in February 2024, include the widening of the road, installation of a waterline on the east side of the street, the building of curbs and gutters, as well as the building of an 8-foot-wide multi use path on the golf course side of the road, said the release.
Wathen Lane from Hillmont Drive to the driveway entrance of 6781 Wathen Lane is currently closed while the contractor relocates power poles and completes grading work on the road, said a release from the city.
The closure is scheduled through Nov. 1, and no local traffic is allowed through the construction zone, said the release.
