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The construction zone on Meridian is flooded May 16.

Main, Meridian intersection opens
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 21, 2015

There was good news and bad news this week for the $6.7 million road reconstruction project in the heart of Valley Center.

The good news: The Main and Meridian intersection, which has been closed since March 23, re-opened on May 20, allowing northbound and southbound traffic through the construction zone. The bad: The project got more expensive, more complicated and no less inconvenient for drivers and shoppers in the city's main retail area.

The Valley Center City Council on May 19 approved a $23,000 project change order to pay for the removal of abandoned Kansas Gas Service pipes in the construction zone. City engineer Josh Golka said the city has an ordinance that requires utility companies to pay for the removal of such pipes. So, the city will seek reimbursement from Kansas Gas Service when the job is finished, rather than hold up the project waiting on negotiations. The pipes were abandoned and service was relocated to make way for the road reconstruction project.

Though Golka said the city hoped to be reimbursed, he wasn't sure whether the utility company would pay the entire bill.

The additional cost added to a bottom line that was already over original budgets by about $1.4 million.

The Main and Meridian intersection is now a two-way stop with temporary stop signs posted on Main Street for east and west traffic.

The intersection and most of the construction zone flooded over the weekend, when Valley Center received several inches of rainfall. The underground stormwater drainage system is not entirely functional and won't be until the project is nearly complete in the fall.

The storm also delayed the opening of the intersection, which had been set for May 18. Crews scrambled to open the intersection by May 20. It opened around 8 p.m.

"We're doing the best that we can," Golka said. "… The storm sewer we have in place is not connected to anything."

Golka warned that the Main and Meridian intersection may be closed if flooding occurs again.

With the west side of Meridian now open, work will switch to the east side of the road. Officials said at least one entrance to each of the affected businesses will be maintained throughout the project, although the entrance to Bartel's True Value Hardware will be from a frontage road between Ramsey and Clay.

Ramsey also will close this week.

Access to Meridian from Allen, Butler and Clay will be maintained.

The work also will call for the disruption of water service for about four hours on June 3 as crews move a waterline farther in the ground to make room for the drainage system. Affected businesses will include DZ Automotive, Sonic, Pizza Hut, The Learning Center and Roberts TV and residences in the mobile home park behind Sonic.

The city hosted a public information meeting at 6 p.m. May 19 and will continue to do so every first and third Tuesday of the month.

During the city council meeting May 19, the council:

•Approved the appointment of Brendan McGettigan to fill an unexpired term on the city council, representing Ward 2 (northeast part of the city), a vacancy created when Laurie Dove was elected mayor in April.

•Set 6 p.m. June 9 and 23 as special meetings to discuss the 2016 budget.

•Discussed the city's capital improvement projects list.

•Discussed the possibility of rehabilitating the city's water wells to pump more untreated water that the city sells to Wichita or possibly create a treatable water source to supplement the water Valley Center buys from Wichita. The discussion is expected to continue at a future meeting.

The following is the city's weekly road construction update:

Current Status of Closures

•Opening of Main and Meridian intersection delayed due to heavy weekend rains. The current schedule is to open on Wednesday, May 20, weather dependent.

•Upon opening, Main and Meridian intersection to be 2-way stop controlled with stop signs on Main Street for east and westbound traffic prior to permanent traffic signal improvements. Permanent traffic signal installation scheduled for late June/early July.

•Work scheduled to begin on the east half of Meridian and Ramsey with intermittent periods of limited access during demolition of pavement.

•The west half of Meridian will be open for access to the businesses in the area. Traffic may access this area from north and south Meridian which will be open to traffic.

•The best routes to avoid construction are Seneca for traffic east of the project, and Ash north of Main or Sheridan south of Main for traffic west of the project.

Current Status of Construction

•Waterline relocation along east half of Meridian scheduled for early June.

•Pavement demolition along east half of Meridian and Ramsey.

•Pond grading ongoing south of Ford Street working from the south end of the detention pond towards the north.

•Concrete wall construction on pump station ongoing.

Next Steps of Construction (Approximately 2-3 weeks out)

•Storm sewer construction along east half of Meridian and Ramsey.





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