Now that new stretch of Eighth Street between Grant and McKinley is in service, the next major street improvement in the area, the reworking of 10th and Grant, will begin soon, City Administrator Kendal Francis said.  

“KDOT is telling us the early start date could be March 4 but they have yet to confirm that,” he said. It is the Kansas Department of Transportation which is in charge of the project. 

“We are also awaiting word on pre-construction meetings,” he said. “So, I’m not certain what the likelihood of March 4 being the start date is, but it is possible it could happen that quickly.”

Eighth Street opened for traffic Tuesday. This was key to the planned improvements on 10th since the new Eighth Street will act as a bypass to help ease traffic during that endeavor.

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.