The Kansas Department of Transportation will be providing the majority of funding for a new project to improve traffic flow at a major Emporia intersection.
Emporia City Commissioners voted unanimously to accept a KDOT Connecting Link Improvement Program award which will fund 90 percent of upgrades at the intersection of Prairie Street and West Sixth Ave. According to City Commissioner Rob Gilligan, the major focus of the project will be for geometric improvements at the intersection.
Gilligan says the intersection has a history of vehicle accidents occurring in the area due to the high volume of traffic on a regular basis. He says the project will allow the city to “fix some of the corners at the intersection” and hopefully reduce the possibility of more accidents occurring in the area.
Additionally, commissioners approved a permanent right of way easement in the same area which Gilligan says is the piece the city needs to round the northeast corner of the intersection to increase traffic flow. The total cost of the project is just over $600,000. The CCLIP award will cover roughly $500,000 of the cost with the city of Emporia responsible for providing the remaining funding — 10 percent of the total project cost.
According to City Engineer Jim Ubert, the project will not begin anytime soon, however, as the city must wait until July 1, 2021, before putting the project out to bid.
In other business, commissioners adopted the standard traffic ordinances for Kansas cities. Gilligan says there were some changes to the ordinances this year including an update to ordinance language, regulations on micro utility trucks, traffic flow and an update on rules for the consent of breathalizers.
Commissioners also approved a resolution of intent for bonds with Presbyterian Manor and authorized the issuance of bonds for water projects on South Avenue. Two executive sessions also took place with no action taken.
The Emporia City Commission will hold a study session next Wednesday inside city conference room 1AB at White Auditorium.
