Barton County and the City of Great Bend will join to improve the portion of SW 40 Avenue between U.S. 56 and West Barton County Road, known as Airport Road. Both the County Commission and the City Council signed off on the partnership Monday.
The two entities are taking part in the Kansas Department of Transportation Cost-share Program. They will each pay for an equal share not to exceed $120,000 for the mill and overlay of the 2.25 miles stretch of paved four-lane highway.
But, this is far from a sure thing, city and county officials said. It is still subject to KDOT approval.
The project
This is a unique situation in that about 60% of the road falls in the city and 40% in the county.
Roughly, the south-bound lanes fall within the city limits surrounding the Municipal Airport and industrial park, and the north-bound lanes fall within the county. The southern city limits end at SW 20 Road. But, since the city limits line along the road’s center is technically just over the center line, most of the total surface area falls inside the city.
“Historically, the county has taken care of that road,” City Administrator Kendal Francis told the council Monday night. “But, it makes sense to share.”
The work involves milling off three-quarters of an inch of existing asphalt then applying 2 inches of hot-mix overlay, County Engineer Barry McManaman said. There will also be rocked shoulders.
In October 2019, a city Cost-share Program application for improvements to 10th Street and the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip was approved, as was a county application for the intersection of NE 60 Avenue and K-4 on the east edge of Redwing.
At that time, the Barton County Commission applied to use the program for the Airport Road project, Francis said. The City Council approved him working with the county on the application last year. However, it was not funded.
Now, the second round of applications is open and the Airport Road project remains in the project pool for this spring, Francis said.
What is involved
McManaman estimates construction costs to be approximately $865,000. A 25% local match would equal $216,250. An equal cost share would equate to $108,125 each for construction.
In addition, a rough estimate for design fees would be around $20,000 depending on what KDOT requires. That would be an additional $10,000 apiece for that cost, meaning the potential amount for each party would be just shy of $120,000.
The actual final cost would of course be dependent on the bids received, Francis said.
Monday morning, the Barton County Commission approved the deal as well.
