Several city and county commissioners voiced support Monday for a new design of the proposed extension of 31st Street east into the county.

Engineers told city and county officials that the design was a compromise plan that came out of a steering committee looking at expanding the road from 31st Street and Haskell Avenue to County Road 1057.

“It’s another east-west road that’s just needed as we have development to the east and development to the west,” City Commissioner Mike Amyx said.

The road likely wouldn’t be completed for several years, but commissioners and public works staff members had Monday’s discussion to give one another a better idea about what property might have to be purchased to make way for the road. Neither the city nor the county has funding to build the road, estimated to cost in excess of $10 million.

Engineers listened to ideas from a steering committee and the public for several months, and then drew a road that curves south in the city to avoid Mary’s Lake east of Haskell Avenue. The road also curves farther north, east of O’Connell Road.

The bulk of the route is a two-lane road, but the design includes a turn lane near East Hills Business Park. It also sets aside areas for biking and walking.

City Commissioner Boog Highberger said he thought a 45 mph speed limit was too high, especially through a residential area. County commissioner Charles Jones asked staff to determine what it would cost to redesign the route with a lower speed limit of 35 mph. Staff had indicated a slower speed would require a design change.

County Commissioner Bob Johnson supported the design that was presented Monday. He said that it included potential for traffic calming devices and that the curves could take care of speed concerns.

“Don’t make the mistake of under-designing it. Just don’t do that,” Johnson said.

Lawrence Mayor Mike Dever said the route design did a good job of minimizing the impact on area residences.

No decisions on the design were made Monday. Each commission will consider the new route at future meetings.