Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com

The El Dorado City Commission scheduled a public hearing on February 17 for comments to be heard regarding the 12th Avenue bridge replacement over the Walnut River in El Dorado State Park.

The project, conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation, (KDOT), is being done due to the bridge’s useful life coming to an end. The replacement of the bridge will include a shared-use pedestrian and cycling path that the City of El Dorado has been planning to work into future city road and sidewalk upgrades.

Construction on the bridge is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025, and expected to be completed within a year following the award of the project. with detours directed to US-77, US-54, and K-177. The bridge route will be closed during construction.

The Federal Highway Administration, (FHWA), requires a 45-day comment period for the FHWA to process the environmental determination so the bridge project can receive federal funding.

Those wishing to comment can do so before 5pm on Friday, March 21 via email at engineering@eldoks.com, or by mail at City of El Dorado, 220 E. 1st Avenue, El Dorado, KS 67042, Attn: Engineering Department. Comments may also be presented verbally during the public hearing on February 17 at the City Commission meeting in City Hall beginning at 5:30pm. All comments will be forwarded to KDOT for review afterwards.