Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com

At the February 17 City Commission meeting the City of El Dorado approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation, (KDOT), that will improve the section of K-254 between Haverhill Road and Jones Street. The project is estimated to cost $$635,797.16, which will be split between KDOT and the City of El Dorado.

The project, which the city applied to receive funding for through KDOT, will be funded by the City Connecting Link Improvement Program, which offers federal and state funds to cities for enhancing City Connecting Links in three categories. Those categories are Surface Preservation, Pavement Restoration and Geometric Improvement. This project falls under the Surface Preservation category in which it was awarded.

KDOT will pay for 90% of participating costs of construction and construction engineering or up to $400,000. The City is estimated to pay $235,797.16, which will come out of the Street Sales Tax Fund and includes 10% of participating costs of construction and construction engineering until Secretary’s funding limit is reached, 100% of participating costs of construction and CE after Secretary’s funding limit is reached, 100% of costs of preliminary engineering, right of way, and utility adjustments and 100% of non-participating cost.

The project will include a 2-inch mill and overlay, pavement markings and an underdrain installation. The road is reported to not have been resurfaced since 2012 and accommodates over 15,000 vehicles daily. In the staff report by El Dorado Engineering Director Scott Rickard, it was noted that the “project is crucial for ensuring the safety and longevity of the roadway,” by extending the lifespan of the section of K-254/Central Ave.

The project has not yet been scheduled. Traffic control measures will be used during the project to keep the road accessible.