Elizabethtown Residents using Gaither Station Road are put at an unnecessary risk thanks to the unsafe condition of the road and railroad crossing. Heavy commercial vehicle traffic, combined with a dangerously narrow road create a deadly combination that will only get worse as more homes are built and the industrial park is expanded. Widening the road by even a foot would make a tremendous difference. And judging by the number of roundabouts, the county has funding for roadway improvement.

Since 2014, 50 REPORTED accidents along the 5-mile stretch of Gaither Station Road have been reported to KSP, Hardin County Sherriff, or Elizabethtown PD. Most recently, on November 18, a dump truck traveling south on this road ran off the road and tipped over. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This does not include UNREPORTED accidents we have all unfortunately witnessed. Since April, there have been three known accidents involving tire blowouts, as motorists attempt to cross over the railroad tracks near Ring Rd. (If you know someone or ARE someone who falls in this category, leave a comment when you sign!)

This alarmingly narrow and hazardous road needs urgent attention. It becomes especially perilous when vehicles attempt to pass one another. What amplifies this issue even more is the heavy traffic of tractor-trailers, which travel to and from the Hardin County Waste Water Treatment Plant.

And let's not forget the rollercoaster-like section between the railroad crossing and the treatment plant. The lack of visibility over the center hill is a recipe for disaster.

Moreover, the Hardin County government plans to convert 100+ acres of farmland into an industrial park. This transformation will inevitably increase the volume of traffic, rendering an already dangerous road even more hazardous. To cater to this impending increase in traffic, there is an urgent need to to: 1) widen the Gaither Station Road, 2) flatten the three hills, and 3) improve the railroad crossing near Ring Rd.

This plea is not about personal convenience but concerns the safety of all those who travel this route. Our lives and wellbeing should not be undermined due to inadequate infrastructure. We demand Hardin County government to consider the safety of its residents and the future of the community. Please, sign this petition to call on the Hardin County government to make our road safer for everyone.

 

Below is a map of the 50 REPORTED accidents along Gaither Station Rd from 2014-2024.

The map can also be seen HERE.

Accident data is from the Kentucky State Police and KY Transportation Cabinet HERE.