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Fort Scott projects not impacted by governor's decision
Although the Kansas Department of Transportation recently announced delays in 25 major highway construction projects, Fort Scott projects receiving KDOT money should not be affected, city officials said.
Construction work on a project to widen U.S. Highway 69 and make improvements to the highway's intersections with various other streets is expected to begin Monday, according to a KDOT news release.
In September, KDOT awarded the $2.8 million construction contract for the project to LaForge & Budd of Parsons. The work was bid as two separate projects -- intersection improvements and the highway widening.
Work is expected to begin Monday on intersection and corridor improvements, weather permitting. The U.S. 69 project runs from South National to 23rd Street and includes intersections with National, 19th and 23rd streets, the news release said.
On April 20, KDOT announced delays to major highway construction projects -- including a planned four-way express on U.S. 69 north of Arma -- after the state budget picture continued to worsen.
City Manager Dave Martin said this week he has not heard of delays to other projects in Fort Scott receiving KDOT funds.
"The 69 widening cannot go away. We've already signed contracts," Martin said. "The contracts have been signed. The equipment is there already. They should be starting anytime. The city has sent the money in. That project has already been funded."
Improvements in Fort Scott consist of storm sewer replacement, widening, mill and overlay of the roadway, and intersection lighting at the 18th and 23rd street intersections. Early phases will include improvements to an access road south of 23rd Street and other side roads, followed by widening, sewer work and entrance replacements along U.S. 69.
Later stages of the project will involve construction of a median at the highway's intersections with National and 23rd Street, followed by a full-width mill and overlay of U.S. 69. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout construction, with occasional lane reductions. The road work should be completed by spring 2017, weather permitting, according to KDOT.
In the project, U.S. 69 will be widened into a five-lane highway with a middle turn lane from 23rd Street north to 18th Street.
Total cost for the project, which is being funded mostly by grant money and some budgeted city funds, is about $4.2 million when figuring in costs of construction, design, right-of-way and inspection. The city's cost for the widening project is about $440,000 with a KDOT grant paying about $731,000. The city has no money in the intersection project, which is being funded entirely by about $3 million in KDOT and federal grants, Director of Finance Jon Garrison said.
Garrison said the city's total contribution is about 10 percent of a $4 million project.
Another project receiving a KDOT grant will make access improvements off of U.S. 69 into the Fort Scott Industrial Park near the LaRoche Baseball Complex.
City officials learned in 2015 the city was awarded a $1.2 million KDOT grant for the approximately $1.2 million project. The project will construct two new turn lanes off U.S. 69 into the industrial park as well as some interior connector roads onto U.S. 69 and Campbell Drive. The purpose of the project is to improve access to existing and proposed development within the industrial park, as well as alleviate traffic issues.
Martin said that project "could" be affected by KDOT delays "but more than likely they won't take that money away."
He said money has been earmarked and KDOT has committed their portion of funding for the project.
"Because we've been proactive and ahead of the ballgame, the only one (project) in question is the upgradeable expressway (six miles of a four-lane highway on U.S. 69 to Arma)," he said.
Proposed improvements include adding a northbound right-turn lane and a southbound left-turn lane at the existing crossover and east side entrance at this location, as well as improving the east side entrance and constructing internal roadways to connect with existing roadways.
Martin has said intersection improvements will be made at U.S. 69 and Hickory Road, which runs off the highway between the KDOT office and the Fort Scott Community College truck driving school. He said the plan is to complete Campbell Drive and connect that road to Hickory Road as part of a plan to make safer entrances and exits at the industrial park. The Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., (BEDCO) has committed $50,000 toward the project.
The city's portion of that project is $168,990 to pay for design and engineering costs. The majority of the project will be funded by the KDOT grant, Garrison said.
Garrison said KDOT held a bid opening for that project this week and the apparent low bidders, in a joint bid, are Heckert Construction Co., of Pittsburg and Mission Construction Co., of St. Paul. The low bid is about $807,000, which is under the engineer's estimate of $1 million. He said Fort Scott City Commissioners will consider formal approval of the low bid during their Tuesday meeting.
The Safe Routes to School project would construct sidewalk and pedestrian improvements around Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware elementary schools.
This project will be funded by a $200,000 KDOT grant with city matching funds of $71,665. In 2014, the city and USD 234 were awarded a Safe Routes to School grant through KDOT. The aim of the national program is to increase the health and safety of youngsters and the community by encouraging children to walk or bike to school.