The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is conducting a feasibility study to determine the best options for improving the entrance to Kingdom Come State Park at Cumberland. Cabinet officials say a new entrance will better accommodate motorists traveling to the park.

The study will analyze the area between KY 1254 and the park to seek potential routes. One potential route begins at the state park and connects to KY 1254 near U.S. 119, a length of approximately one mile.

Survey crews are scheduled to begin staking center lines during the next few weeks in preparation for the core drilling that will determine soil and rock types. Concerns about rock formations in the area could affect the location of the entrance.

"This is excellent news if they act on it. The road to the park right now is so steep that people with motor-homes can't make it up," said Harlan County Judge-Executive, Joe Grieshop. "If there was a grander entrance, people traveling through the area would stop to visit more. We have to have a better entrance to the park to continue the growth of tourism in the county."

Magistrate David Kennedy agreed that the road to the park needs to be upgraded.

"Something needs to be done to create better access into the park." he said. "A better entrance would help out with more tourism."

Motorists and residents should be alert to crews working in the area through the summer of 2008.