As the fatality count on the AA Highway nears 30 since the roadway was constructed in 1986 and '87, officials are taking more steps to improve safety on the highway.

Officials from Ashland to Alexandria met last month to discuss the safety of the AA Highway and ways to improve it.

Since that meeting, officials have begun to implement some improvements suggested at the meeting.

Last week another fatality was recorded in Lewis County as the apparent result of something listed as a major cause of accidents listed in the safety study presented at the meeting: driver inattention.

In fact, failure to yield on the AA Highway (33.7 percent of total crashes) was the highest of all percentages of fatal accidents listed in the study. The nearest contenders were driver inattention, unsafe speed and alcohol involvement, all at 17.9 percent.

The march 27 meeting was conducted to brief the officials prior to a public hearing, which will be scheduled later this year.

Ken Agent, a research engineer with the University of Kentucky, presented findings of a safety study conducted for 1996 to 1998.

The report indicated that the percentage of fatal crashes on the AA Highway was higher than for all two lane rural roads.

Some of the recent proposed changes include the relocation of road sides to help drivers approaching the intersection of the AA Highway have a better view of oncoming traffic.

Improving turn lanes near the intersections on the AA Highway is also in the works.

A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of the AA Highway and Ky. Rt. 59 last week resulted in the death of a Garrison woman.

The two vehicles collided and both vehicles came to rest against a guard rail on the northwest corner of the intersection.

Polley said the two vehicles involved were a four-wheeler and a go-cart with a roll cage and officials were first notified of the accident at 10:14 p.m.

A four-wheeler, operated by Trampus Patton, 28, of Vanceburg, was traveling on Fly Branch Road west of Vanceburg while the go-cart, operated by Hubert Doyle, 17, of Germantown, was traveling in the opposite direction, Polley said.

The four-wheeler was equipped with head lamps, while the go-cart was not, and neither driver was wearing a safety helmet, Polley stated. The two vehicles collided head-on, causing substantial damage to both vehicles.

A medical helicopter was summoned and had reportedly started en route to a parking lot at Lewis County High School, near the scene of the accident, when the crew reported they were alerted to a storm system in the area and returned to their base.

Meeting in regular session last week, the Lewis County Fiscal Court learned that a new subdivision is being developed in Lewis County.

Luke Bentley appeared before magistrates and announced that he and Mike Bertram are establishing Bourbon Estates just off the AA Highway near Charters. Bentley said they wanted to dedicate the new road to Lewis County.

County Attorney Clayton "Buddy" Lykins Jr. explained to Bentley that the acting road foreman Dane Howard would inspect the road to see that it meets county standards and would report back to the court. Lykins also said that the county needs a 30-foot right-of-way.

Bentley responded that he and Bertram would cooperate fully with the fiscal court to make sure everything is done correctly so that the short road, about seven-tenths of a mile, could be added to the county road system.

Three of the homes have been appraised and three other appraisals are under review. FEMA pays for the original appraisal by landowners pay for the second.

Cornette also reported that the new Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping in preparation for establishing 911 for the county is almost completed. All the state roads have been mapped and nearly all of the county roads. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet hopes to complete that job within two weeks.