Kansas Highway 99 in south Emporia is about to get a makeover.
Work begins next week to widen K-99, or Commercial Street, between Kansas Avenue and Soden Road. City Engineer Jim Ubert says this is a significant project.
It’s a good move for safety along the highway.
Because much of the work to come is happening outside the existing 2-lane structure, Ubert says drivers can expect a lot of adjustments — but they can also expect traffic will continue throughout the project.
There will be business access during the project. Trash service will remain on current pickup days, although Polycarts will be moved to nearby side streets for pickup and then returned. Mailboxes, however, will be moved to side streets on a short-term basis.
Kansas Department of Transportation will have updated project information. Ubert says this is a KDOT-administered project, designed by the city and featuring a 90-10 state-local cost share as part of a federal aid program. Total cost is $1.5 million, with work likely through the end of the year.
K-99 runs over 230 miles from south Nebraska to Oklahoma border as part of a nearly 500-mile travel corridor.
Elsewhere across Emporia, Ubert says work continues on both the Street Preservation and Street Rehab programs. The annual projects have different goals, with Street Preservation using different sealing methods to extend the life of different street segments and Street Rehab involving items like mill and overlay, curb and gutter repairs or replacements and handicapped-accessible ramp construction. Both are underway into the fall.
Also, work is ongoing to renovate Wastewater Lift Station 1 in the 1800 block of Merchant. It’s a key part of the city’s wastewater transport system because it handles about 15 percent of Emporia’s wastewater flow. The city says parts of the existing lift station are at the substantial completion phase of demolition so a new facility can be built. Overall, the project is about 15 percent finished.
