Long-awaited safety improvements are getting closer for the dangerous intersection of NE 60 Avenue and K-4 on the east edge of Redwing, following action by the Barton County Commission Monday morning. Approved were the purchases of two small triangular swaths of right-of-way to allow the ditches to be re-configured when the new concrete drainage box is installed.
Purchased were .044 acres from Terry Schremmer at a price of $570 and .034 acres from Everett Hitschmann at a price of $440.
“That intersection has been a problem for a long time,” County Engineer Barry McManaman said. The issue is large trucks turning north on the NE 60 blacktop and taking out culvert guardrails due to the tight turn.
There is also a hill there which can interfere with motorists’ line of sight.
The project will improve the safety of the intersection through the installation of a new box culvert about 60 feet farther north from the highway, and building wider radius at the intersection to allow for better turning, he said.
“We had a horrible accident there,” said Commissioner Kirby Krier, noting a young woman was gravely injured and nearly killed there. He lives in the area and has long advocated for improvements.
“I want to thank the commissioners for continuing to pursue this,” he said. “It is a huge improvement.”
“This was a long time coming,” commission Chairperson Jennifer Schartz said.
It is nearing the third anniversary of that crash, something county Environmental Manager Judy Goreham knows all too well. It was her best friend’s daughter who was involved.
“This is a huge, live-saving improvement we are making for the county,” she said.
McManaman said bids will likely be opened in February 2021 with construction starting in late spring or early summer.
In November 2019, Barton County was approved for the Kansas Department of Transportation cost-share program to improve the junction. The estimated construction cost is $275,660.
Under the KDOT program, the state will cover 75% of the project. In this case, the agency will cover up to $206,000 with the county paying around $69,000 of the construction expenses.
