The project is in its infancy right now, but motorists on U.S. 52 near the Ashland, Ky., bridge may soon experience some slowdown as emergency repairs are made to slips on the highway.

Observant drivers may have already noticed contractors using a large drill on the soil near that stretch of road.

Kathleen Fuller, Public Information Officer with the Ohio Department of Transportation District 9, said that's the first step in some upcoming repairs.

"It's kind of geological work that has to be done. They drill into the earth, and they're taking samples to find out how far down they have to drill when they actually do the repairs," Fuller said. "And they want to know the stability of it, and kind of what the composition of the soil is so they can prepare to do the job."

For the duration of the State Route 52 slip repair project, the four lanes of traffic in the area of the Ashland bridge will be reduced to two lanes. Fuller said she hopes won't impede traffic too much.

Those who live in or around Proctorville may already be experiencing delays for two separate slips being repaired on State Route 243 just north of State Route 7 in Bradrick. A signal is being used to manage traffic in those areas.

Slip repairs of this sort typically take a few weeks to complete, but sometimes require as many as six weeks, depending on the severity of the slip.

Fuller wasn't sure when the slip repair would begin, but she anticipated it would start sometime this summer and she said that it's a safe bet that with the fourth of July so near, the repairs will begin sometime after Independence Day.