A multimillion-dollar construction project is coming to Emporia and the city will incur very little of the cost.
Wednesday evening, Emporia City Commissioners approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation that will see KDOT commit up to $1.9 million for construction of a new roadway and bridge on Road 180 between Roads G and F5. The project will provide additional access for Evergy at their new headquarters located at the intersection of 180 and G.
City Engineer Jim Ubert says the city will have to cover some “soft costs,” such as preliminary engineering and any right of way costs, however, the KDOT funds will cover the entirety of construction. Ubert explains why KDOT is committing the funding to the project.
Ubert says current plans are for construction to begin in the spring of 2022 with the project set to go out to bid later this year.
In other business, commissioners also approved the issuance of $225,000 in general obligation bonds for a project on 30th Ave. The bonds will be added to an additional $753,000 in bonds issued earlier this year for the same project.
The additional funds approved Wednesday were necessary to cover the cost of additional underground utility work that was discovered earlier this year. The full scope of the project will stretch on 30th Ave. from Crestview Drive to Prairie and will include a full update to the roadway, curbs and gutters, and the addition of a new underground storm drainage system.
Work is currently underway and is expected to be completed by early August.
Separately Wednesday, commissioners received an update on the Lyon County Fairgrounds walking trail and a presentation from Empower House Ministries. Commissioners then adjourned the meeting until next Wednesday at 11:30 am following the commission’s regularly scheduled study session which begins at 9 am inside the Municipal Courtroom.
