LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton said Kentucky American Water declined her request for an open public forum to discuss delays in its Fontaine Road water line replacement project, instead opting to distribute information only to directly affected residents through doorhangers and sticky notes, according to city officials.
“That does not give neighbors an opportunity to ask questions,” Gorton said of the utility’s plan to bypass a community meeting. The Chevy Chase neighborhood, which borders the University of Kentucky and includes restaurants and businesses, has been heavily impacted by the extended construction disruptions affecting Fontaine Road.
The water main replacement project, originally scheduled for completion in summer or fall of 2025, has faced repeated setbacks. Crews reportedly damaged private sewer lines during work, raising concerns among residents. One of Kentucky American’s subcontractors went bankrupt, further delaying progress. The utility also pulled subcontractor crews out of Lexington to address infrastructure issues in Owenton.
Kentucky American has requested permission to extend work hours to 3-6 p.m., peak traffic time on the road. Gorton said she conditioned approval on two requirements: a public meeting and a firm project completion date. The company has estimated completion by the end of September but has not provided specific details on staffing levels or a binding end date.
“The company has estimated it will finish the Fontaine project by the end of September, but has not provided a firm end date, any details on staffing levels, or work plan details,” according to city statements. Similar Kentucky American Water infrastructure projects on North Limestone and High Street have also caused disruptions this summer, with road conditions deteriorating significantly from months of construction.
The challenges on Fontaine reflect broader infrastructure work by Kentucky American Water, which invested nearly $72 million in water and wastewater system upgrades throughout its Kentucky service areas in 2025.
Sources
- LFUCG General News
- WEKU reporting on sewer line damage during Fontaine Road water main project
- Lane Report coverage of Kentucky American Water’s infrastructure investments in Lexington
- PR Newswire announcement of Kentucky American Water’s 2025 system improvements totaling nearly $72 million
This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from LFUCG General News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/kentucky-american-declines-set-public-meeting-fontaine-work.
