News editor
Kansas Paving got a late start to its project milling and overlaying 6½ blocks of Main St. in Marion.
The Wichita company told engineer Darin Neufeld of EBH & Associates that they would begin first thing Monday. In Neufeld’s experience, when asphalt companies say, “first thing,” that means at sunrise. Work didn’t begin until afternoon, though.
When work did begin, Main St. was able to stay open to traffic in both directions. The company is milling off the top 2 inches of asphalt from Locust St. to halfway between 1st and Walnut Sts., then relaying 2 inches of asphalt.
Milling won’t require closing the street except what the company is working on at a given time. After the street is resurfaced, it will need probably less than 1½ hours to cool before it is ready for traffic, Neufeld said.
He said the company estimated milling would take three days, “plus or minus,” and paving would take four days, “plus or minus.”
“For exactness, look out your door, and you’ll know as much as me,” Neufeld said Monday morning.
Kenny Hollis of Kansas Paving said the project will take about two weeks overall.
The city’s contract with Kansas Paving says the work is to be completed by Sept. 20, or not to be started until October. City Administrator Doug Kjellin said the city wants to avoid having the street torn up during Art in the Park or Old Settlers’ Day.
Kansas Department of Transportation will pay $200,000 for the project, leaving Marion to pay the remaining $57,567. Kansas Paving’s bid was about $10,000 less than the estimate for the project.