New signage to prevent wrong-way drivers on U.S. 60 East was installed Thursday near the newly opened Owensboro Racing & Gaming, which operates 24/7 and saw more than 1,000 visitors on its opening day Wednesday. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet collaborated on the safety measure.
The $100 million gaming facility is located on Wrights Landing Road, which connects to the four-lane U.S. 60. While the intersection is not blind, a slight curve to the east can make it difficult for unfamiliar drivers to judge oncoming traffic, especially at night.
DCSO deployed two deputies to assist with traffic flow Wednesday, but some drivers still attempted to cross all four lanes of the intersection when it was unsafe to do so, according to Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman and as witnessed by an OT employee. Youngman said he also wants to ensure motorists don’t mistakenly turn left into oncoming traffic, not realizing U.S. 60 is a four-lane highway.
In response to safety concerns, KYTC officials installed additional signage Thursday afternoon, including “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs.
“With the increased traffic flow in the area that may include people unfamiliar with the roadway, it’s just an added safety measure,” said KYTC District 2 Public Information Officer Matt Hughes.
Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman praised KYTC’s swift response to the issue.
“KYTC has been great about addressing our traffic concerns in this area,” Youngman said. “This is a rural part of our community, but it is also a heavily traveled corridor. With Owensboro Racing and Gaming opening, we are seeing a major increase in traffic that has to cross the highway. The signage going up today will be very helpful in drawing attention to the intersection and also in preventing occurrences of wrong-way drivers who turn too soon.”
The Wrights Landing Road intersection is one of two along U.S. 60 in east Daviess County that will soon be redesigned. At the nearby Hawes Boulevard intersection, semi-trucks frequently enter U.S. 60, often needing to cross all four lanes of traffic. The planned changes aim to improve traffic flow and safety, particularly with the increased activity near the new gaming facility.
KYTC recently announced the approval of a $3.5 million project to convert the intersections at Wrights Landing Road and Hawes Boulevard into Restricted Crossing U-Turns (RCUTs), with construction expected to be completed by August 2026.
RCUTs aim to enhance safety by simplifying traffic movements. Instead of making direct left turns or crossing traffic, vehicles from side roads will be required to turn right and then make a U-turn at a designated crossover. KYTC stated that this design significantly reduces the risk of severe crashes by eliminating conflict points at right angles.
