The Dixie Highway Improvement Project in the Louisville, Kentucky, US, is finally underway, with the commencement of the design work on the first phase of the project.

The $600,000 design contract was awarded to The Corradino Group in September.

The first phase of the project will focus on the area between Crums Lane in the north and Rockford Lane in the south.

"We’re grateful to our Jefferson County delegation for the leadership they provided in securing funding for this project."

The project will add new sidewalks and lighting, widen some existing sidewalks and redesign medians.

Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer said: "We’re grateful to our Jefferson County delegation for the leadership they provided in securing funding for this project."

The project will focus on the Interstate 264 interchange and the intersection between Crums Lane, the Seventh Street Road and Dixie Highway.

While the interchange will be transformed into a visual gateway, both areas will be made more pedestrian friendly by adding pedestrian paths in the interchange area where none currently exist.

Improvements will also be made to lighting, signage and landscaping throughout the project area.

Construction is being funded through $5.5m appropriated in the State Road Fund by the Kentucky General Assembly. It is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2014 pending regulatory approvals, .

The project is part of a master plan that will be completed in five phases and cover Dixie Highway from Oak Street to Interstate 265.

A public meeting on this first phase of the Improvement Project will be held on 17 December at Southwest Government Center, where citizens will be asked for their own ideas for improving the Dixie Highway corridor as well as their feedback on preliminary ideas from The Corradino Group.