Expansion of U.S. Highway 59 in Douglas County will be delayed one year, to 2011, after unstable shale rock was found near Pleasant Grove Hill.
"When you're putting $100 million in a project, you want to make sure you know exactly what you are building on," said Joe Blubaugh, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Transportation.
Early geological studies detected the rock south of Lawrence on land that will be used to expand the two-lane highway to four lanes from Lawrence to Ottawa. The shale rock can absorb moisture and expand when it becomes exposed, which could damage the finished roadway, Blubaugh said.
KDOT will now delay contract letting in Douglas County from Nov. 2007 to Nov. 2008. Contract letting in Franklin County is scheduled to begin in April 2007.
Traffic heads north on U.S. Highway 59 Saturday near Pleasant Grove Hill. Shale discovered in the area is delaying highway expansion.
According to the new schedule, the Franklin County portion of the new highway will open in late 2009, and a temporary connection will link it to the highway in Douglas County while construction continues.
When construction begins, workers will grade the area near Pleasant Grove Hill first. Before paving that section, the shale must sit exposed for one year, which will cause it to break down, Blubaugh said. During that time, the other portions of the Douglas County project can continue.
"We wouldn't want a delay like this in every project," Blubaugh said. "It's really good that we did the in-depth geological study."
The state will begin appraisals and right-of-way purchases in Franklin County this month, and in Douglas County this summer. KDOT estimates the project to cost $101.7 million in Douglas County and $112.6 million in Franklin County.
Leo Beier has lived near Highway 59 and Pleasant Grove Hill since 1987, but he said he knew nothing about an abundance of shale rock on his property.
While Beier said he believed something needed to be done with the highway, he thought the safety problem could be solved with shoulder work and speed-limit enforcement on the existing highway.
"I suppose it's going to be what it's going to be," he said. "I'm just not convinced that it's what we needed to do."
Beier is also not crazy about moving or living in a house next to a freeway, and he says he's waiting to hear from the state on how the new highway will affect his property.
Douglas County officials who support expanding the highway said they weren't discouraged by the delay.
Road to be closed
The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced that U.S. Highway 59 will be closed from about 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday between Stafford Road and North 100 Road so that homes can be moved. The Kansas Highway Patrol will redirect traffic. The detour will be from North 100 Road to Montana Road to Stafford Road.
"I'm just pleased that they gave us an update. You don't like the idea that it's going to be longer to finish it, but you like the idea of knowing," County Commissioner Bob Johnson said.
"These things happen," County Commission Chairman Charles Jones said. "They will make good progress, and we'll do what we can to help them."
KDOT sent letters to property owners this week, informing them of the new schedule. The mailing also addressed KDOT Secretary Deb Miller's plan to ask legislators this session to advance the sale of $150 million in bonds authorized in 2004; allow the issuance of an additional $60 million in bonds; and honor a commitment to repay in the next several years $126 million taken from the KDOT budget in 2002 for the state's general budget.
Blubaugh said KDOT wanted property owners to know it was committed to its projects around the state.
"I don't think there's any question about their commitment," Johnson said. "In fact, it's rather encouraging that we're going to study this, and we're going to do it right."
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Hong_Kong_Phooey (anonymous) says…
My only question about the 59 expansion is why are they moving the highway? I believe that the expansion is needed but why not just add two lanes to the existing road?? Doesn't it cost a heck of a lot more to build four lanes than it does to add two?
blessed3x (anonymous) says…
The existing Hwy 59 alignment is being maintained to provide access to county roads that will NOT have direct access to the new, divided 59. One of the most dangerous characteristics of the current Hwy 59 is the presence of "at-grade" intersections and driveways. The new highway will utilize interchanges at key locations with the existing two-lane Hwy 59 acting as a frontage road. For an example of what happens when you maintain at-grade intersections on a divided highway, look at K-7 from Olathe to I-70. Speeds must be dropped and signals added. All these make for a more dangerous situation and are counter productive to the whole concept of building a four-lane highway in the first place. Keeping the current 59 also allows traffic flow to be maintained throughout construction, eliminating the vast majority of road construction confusion and slow-downs for drivers.
blessed3x (anonymous) says…
Not having all the facts about the project, my guess would be that the geo work is on schedule. After all, the date I had originally heard was 2008 for grading, which means that the project wouldn't be bid until probably mid 2007 and design completed not too long prior to that.
Now, what would have been grossly irresponsible is to have done nothing and not discovered this until the graders are pushing dirt. The Franklin county portion of 59 is on schedule so I hear and no major problems have developed, so at least you will be able to travel part of the way in style (as long as they run traffic up onto the new roadway which I'm sure they will).