Shoppers headed to Paducah might soon have one more way to access the Kentucky Oaks Mall.
Paducah City Manager Jeff Pederson presented a plan to purchase 2.16 acres needed to connect Olivet Church Road, through the mall, to New Holt Road and Highway 60 on Tuesday at City Hall. The land and home to be acquired will cost the city $500,000.
City Manager Jeff Pederson said the goal is to divert traffic from Illinois to exit three, rather than exit four.
"It's the parcel that's most impacted for it's current use, which is residential with a dwelling that was occupied," Pederson said. "So in terms of disruptiveness of the occupants and the impact on the property from changing it from what it has been to what it will be, both good and bad, is much more pronounced on this piece of property than any other of the parcels that we've had to acquire."
This is the last piece of land needed to build the connector, a project 13 years in the making and has the ability to bring in $8.5 Million in funding from the State of Kentucky.
This is a joint project between the City of Paducah, McCracken County and the State of Kentucky. In 2006 the project was the No. 1 transportation priority the City of Paducah and McCracken County submitted.
Pederson said the city will be able to sell the .87 acres on which the home sits, and the .56 acres of vacant land as commercial property.
Also during the meeting: 
Credit John Paul Henry
Housing Authority of Paducah Executive Director Cal Ross talks about public housing accomplishments in Paducah at the City Commission meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013.
Mayor Gayle Kaler dedicated October at Housing America Month, an awareness campaign created by the group Housing America. The goal is to raise awareness for the need for decent and affordable housing.
An ordinance was introduced to renew an existing agreement with the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction to allow the City of Paducah to continue making mechanical, electrical, commercial and residential reviews.
