A modern-day Noah's Ark being built in Kentucky by creationists is on track to being completed by next year.

The public will have 40 days and 40 nights to experience the 510 foot vessel themselves in July 2016, it was announced on Thursday.

"Some supporters who have been watching the construction of the huge ship have said they believe this Ark will be one of the 'wonders of the modern world'," said Ken Ham, president and founder of Answers in Genesis (AiG), the group behind the plan.

Built according to the dimensions provided in the Genesis account of the boat's construction, the vessel will be 510 ft long, according to AiG.

They are expecting 1.6 million visitors to the ark in the first year.

AiG is a "young earth creationist" group, who believe the earth was created by God around 6,000 years ago.

The project is affiliated with the Creation Museum, which seeks to bring "the Bible to life", according to its website.

The website expressed the hope that "through the construction of a massive full-scale Noah's ark, the Ark Encounter will present America and other nations with a reminder about the Bible's account of the ark."

On the website, Ham said "reminders in the culture which helped ensure that people would not forget the truths of God's Word" were increasingly being removed from "our western culture, including the US".

The hope is that rebuilding the ark would provide "a sign (or a reminder) to this world that God's Word is true".

In a press release, Answers in Genesis have said that it has raised $80 million of the $91.5 million estimated total needed for the project to be completed.