There is now a start date for the long-anticipated improvements to the intersection of 10th and Grant, City Administrator Kendal Francis said. The work is set to begin March 18, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced.

“Obviously, weather is still a factor,” Francis said. If winter keeps rearing its ugly head, that may be bumped back.

“This is an 85-working-day project,” Francis said. So, if the March 18 date holds, it would be done by mid July.

“We have had our pre-construction meetings,” he said. The Kansas Department of Transportation is in charge of the project.

Key to this effort was the construction of the new stretch of Eighth Street between Grant and McKinley, which opened for traffic on Jan. 22. This was important to the 10th and Grant endeavor since the new Eighth Street will act as a safety valve to help ease traffic pressure.

While Eighth Street was a city project that will eventually be paid for by property owners in the area, 10th and Grant is a KDOT project, Francis said. Last November, the council authorized KDOT to award the bid to the low bidder, Morgan Brothers Construction Inc. of LaCrosse, for $688,473. 

Francis said it will take a matter of months to complete. Although 10th Street will remain open, it will be narrowed, thus limiting traffic. 

This is what made the recently completed expansion of Eighth Street between Grant and McKinley crucial.

This project is funded through a KDOT Geometric Improvement Grant which requires 10 percent city matching funds. The city is committed to matching funds up to $214,000.