By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Coming down to the wire
10th and Grant project should be done on time
10th and grant update
Despite delays, the project to improve the intersection of 10th and Grant in Great Bend is more or less on target.

For many, it may feel like the intersection of 10th and Grant streets has been a confusing maze of orange cones and snarled traffic forever. But the project to improve the area may be nearing its end, Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis said Monday. 

“I’m sure everyone has been kind of wondering what is going on,” Francis said. “We’ve been delayed here off and on.” 

Most recently, “we’ve been waiting on some materials to arrive,” he said. Now that these have gotten here, work commenced at the end of last week.

The junction is a Kansas Department of Transportation project with Morgan Brothers of La Crosse having the low bid of $688,473. 

This project is funded through a KDOT Geometric Improvement Grant which requires 10% city matching funds. The city was committed to matching funds up to $214,000, but it turns out the total will be less than anticipated.

The project started in March. Weather and other factors permitting, it was set to be an 85-working-day project, meaning it would be done by mid-July.

But, earlier, there was an elevation issue involving the streets that required a change needing KDOT approval. Rain has also slowed progress.


Down to the wire

The scope of the work is to increase turning radii to better accommodate large trucks. It is a five-phase effort which is in phase three now. Phase four is expected to start next week.

“By my calculations, they have about 27 working days left until liquidated damages,” Francis said. 

These are determined by KDOT based on the size of the project and charged to the contractor if they exceed the job’s time limit, said Public Works Director Simon Wiley. The liquidated damages for this project are listed as two different types: Type A if the contract has gone past the allotted time, and the project is not open to unrestricted traffic; and type B occur if the project is open to unrestricted traffic, but not completed after the cleanup time expires (cleanup time is allotted after completion to take care of punch list items and to cleanup the site). 

For 10th and Grant, the Type A damages are $1,000 per day and the Type B are $500 per day, he said.

Still, the work continues, Francis said. 

“They poured concrete Monday,” he said. They intend to pour again this Wednesday for the east-bound traffic and on Friday for the center turning lane.