A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to step up work zone lane restrictions to allow a concrete rehabilitation and diamond grinding project along the Natcher Parkway in Ohio County starting on Monday, March 13, 2017. The project area runs along the Natcher Parkway from the Ohio-Butler County line at mile point 37.134 extending northward through the Natcher/Western Kentucky Parkway Interchange to mile point 49.795 just southwest of the KY 69 Exit 50 Hartford Interchange, a distance of 12.66 miles. Since January, the contractor has utilized intermittent daytime restrictions in this work zone. Starting Monday, March 13th, there will be an increase in activity with utilization of a median crossover by southbound traffic. The contractor plans to establish two-way traffic running on the northbound lanes of the Natcher Parkway between the Ohio-Butler County Line extending northward to the Natcher Parkway-Western KY Parkway Exit 43 Interchange, a distance of about 6 miles. Running two-way bidirectional traffic along the northbound lanes will allow concrete repair work, drainage improvements, and diamond grinding along the southbound lanes while they are free of traffic. The current plan is to have this section ready to return to full traffic flow by July 3, 2017. The project will be completed in about 4 phases of about 6 miles each. As work ramps up, this work zone includes traffic shifts, a work zone speed limit, double fines for citations, and an enhanced enforcement presence. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and construction personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. The W.L. Harper Company is the prime contractor on this $14,324,220 highway improvement project. The target completion date is November 1, 2017. The Natcher Parkway is designated as a Future I-65 Spur Corridor.