Ark Valley News - Fall 2015 completion date set

Fall 2015 completion date set
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: December 04, 2014

Fall 2015 completion date set

Though you can't see it, a massive project to fix Meridian Street flooding in downtown Valley Center once and for all is well underway.

But construction on Valley Center's Meridian and Ford street paving and stormwater drainage improvement project, which has been called the largest public works undertaking in the city's history, has been pushed back to March with a completion date anticipated to be Oct. 22, 2015.

Josh Golka with the city's engineering firm of PEC told the city council Dec. 2 that the start of the $5.4 million project has been held up because of work to identify and relocate utilities.

City officials had hoped to start the project this fall and be finished by summer 2015.

The city is expected to have a public meeting to review the final plans on Jan. 14. Construction is set to start March 16.

The project includes the construction of a large detention pond south of Ford (77th) and the reconstruction of Meridian from Ford to Main. The project will include an underground stormwater drainage system, so Meridian won't flood anymore and the large dip and drainage trough in the 500 block of South Meridian (known as Baxter Springs) will be removed for good.

The project also will include sidewalks along Meridian and reconstruction of the Main and Meridian intersection.

Ramsey Road, which connects Meridian and Ford, will be reconfigured to form 90-degree intersections with Meridian and Ford, improving sight lines for drivers.

Early plans call for Meridian (from Main to Clay) to be reduced to two lanes with a third turning lane in the middle. Currently, Meridian south of Main is four lanes wide.

City officials have been anticipating this project for years.

Council member Al Hobson said he's heard from some in the community who doubted the project would happen, saying the city didn't have the money to do it.

Golka said, though it may be inconvenient at times, vehicles will have access to businesses during construction.

In other business Dec. 2, the council:

•Approved an amendment to the 2014 city budget that accounts for more revenue in the city's special highway, water utility and stormwater utility funds.

•Heard a presentation from Sedgwick County 911 official Laura Meyers, who talked about the problem with dropped calls to 911.

•Approved a contract with Pearson Construction for a pedestrian and bike path along McLaughlin.