Traffic adjustments will be continuing on Sixth Avenue between Merchant and Commercial Streets for the next few weeks.
Work has been ongoing in the area since November to replace a water line in the 10 block of West Sixth. According to City Engineer Jim Ubert, the new 10-inch line has been connected to Commercial Street but not Merchant as of yet.
Ubert says an existing four-inch line is still active in the Haag Development on Commercial Street which the city is currently coordinating with plumbers on the project to tie that line over to the new line.
The additional work will include the replacement of valves which were discovered to be leaking as the new line project has unfolded. Additionally, Ubert says the water line break which developed around three weeks ago has also led to the need for additional work.
According to Ubert they are awaiting word from the contractor on if he could conduct the additional projects as well as from the Kansas Department of Transportation on an extension of the city’s current permit to conduct the valve and line repairs. Ubert says there is a possibility KDOT could choose not to extend the permit, however, it is extremely unlikely they would do so as both the city and KDOT have a mutual investment in the infrastructure under Sixth Avenue.
Ubert says work may be completed, and traffic may return to normal in the area within the next two weeks, however, that is subject to change.
