State to help rebuild Nighthawk, other roads
Staff writer
The state department of transportation Thursday announced it will share the cost of reconstructing 20 miles of county blacktops and portions of two Peabody streets this summer.
An outside contractor will install new concrete bases and double chip seal overlays in the $2.6 million county project.
The county’s share for the road project will be $910,000.
The project will include 13 miles of Nighthawk Rd., two miles of 60th Rd. from Nighthawk to Limestone Rds., five miles of 330th Rd. from east of Tampa to Quail Creek Rd.
County engineer Brice Goebel said work will begin no sooner than the first week of August.
“Obviously we’re happy to get the money because the work is obviously needed, not only for me but for the county residents who drive the roads and need them,” he said.
Gov. Laura Kelly announced approval of the grant last week, at the same time she announced approval of a grant to work on a portion of two Peabody streets around the school campus.
“For years Peabody Junior and Senior High School has dealt with standing water in its street and parking lots,” she said. “Now the streets, curbs, and gutters will be replaced.”
Ron Traxson, Peabody-Burns superintendent, said the school district partnered with the city to apply for the project grant. The district will pay as much as $60,000 of the cost of rebuilding Sycamore and Elm Sts. near the school.
“They put blacktop over bricks, and it holds water,” Traxson said. “It’s a drainage issue. So the street has to be reworked, reguttered to alleviate standing water.”
In winter areas where water stands become an ice rink.
“Our parking lot is OK, but the street parking and the main entrance to the building stand in the street,” Traxson said.
Elm St. in front of the elementary school is filled with potholes, which make the street hazardous, Traxson said.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to get this taken care of,” Traxson said.
Peabody mayor Tom Spencer said KDOT would pay $446,000 of the estimated cost of the project, with Peabody and the school district sharing $170,000 including engineering costs, which are not part of the grant.
“The city anticipates work will begin in 2021 after school lets out for the summer,” Spencer said.
Kelly said the state wanted to make smart economic improvements by selecting projects that would help with commerce and education.
“Kansas economic recovery won’t wait and we’re working to cut red tape,” she said.