The Kansas Department of Transportation is offering the city $300,000 to make the intersection of 31st and Iowa streets safer. The money would be earmarked to upgrade traffic signals at the intersection.
Lawrence is already planning to spend an estimated $1.1 million to widen and improve the intersection to accommodate increased traffic expected for a Home Depot planned nearby. But a KDOT official said the state's offer has nothing to do with that project.
Marty Matthews, KDOT spokesman, said 31st and Iowa is already near the top of a state list of high-accident intersections. The $300,000 is one of several state grants made annually to Kansas cities to improve road safety on dangerous streets.
The money could be used to widen approaches to the intersection, officials said. But KDOT does not want to help pay for the improvements required for the Home Depot project. So the state is mandating that the money be used only for traffic signals if the store is built.
The Home Depot project appears on track. Assistant City Manager Dave Corliss said Friday that he was wrapping up negotiations with the home-improvement store's representatives on other street construction and improvements, a portion of which will be paid for by Home Depot.
The Lawrence City Commission will discuss the grant at its next meeting, 6:35 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
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