Douglas County leaders said Monday morning the county will not receive any federal stimulus funds administered by the state for road or bridge improvements.
Douglas County Engineer Keith Browning said the City of Lawrence will receive money from the Kansas Department of Transportation for intersection improvements at North Second and Locust streets in North Lawrence — an estimated $3 million project.
KDOT is expected to announce a full list of about $11 million worth of stimulus projects Monday. The county’s main request had been an estimated $2.6 million improvement to reconstruction Douglas County Road 438 or the Farmers’ Turnpike northwest of Lawrence.
“It was not good news Friday at all. Actually, I was surprised. I really wanted that 438 project,” Browning said.
The county can still proceed on its own with improving the Farmer’s Turnpike, and commissioners asked the funding request be added to the agenda for the 8:30 a.m. meeting on March 30 at the courthouse, 1100 Mass. St.
Browning said construction to the road could take about eight months, but he wanted to have it finished before winter.
Commissioner Jim Flory asked county administrators to compile funding options because the commission is also dealing with cost-cutting measures, like freezing merit raises and considering cuts to departments and social service agencies.
“I need to be prepared to balance those, and I’d like every piece of information I could get,” Flory said.
Comments
another_concerned_parent 5 years ago
From the information that I have read and been told, it was pretty much a reconstruct. Moving 50 ft to the north for the turnpike to expand and then cutting down the two big hills. They have already moved the majority of the utilities and fence lines. Just another waste of taxpayer's money if the county just sits on this one. If they do not proceed with this project, I would certainly hope that they do not freeze merit increases for county employees.
drake 5 years ago
I'm pretty sure he's already had his today, thanks.
ocean 5 years ago
bong hits for logrhythmic.....
cheeseburger 5 years ago
"The county’s main request had been an estimated $2.6 million improvement to reconstruction Douglas County Road 438 or the Farmers’ Turnpike northwest of Lawrence."
Uh, I think that would be 'reconstruct.'
ocean 5 years ago
DIE SLT
DIE
toe 5 years ago
The farmers turnpike should have been limited to lighter weight trucks after the Lecompton interchange was opened. The heavy semi trucks are not good for that road. Oh well, the city gambled on the request and failed. Since road construction is such a divisive issue in Lawrence, I would not have funded anything either.
1957 5 years ago
"unending support for biological weapons development"
Yea, that's it. Thanks so much for clearing this up.
skinny 5 years ago
logrithmic,
If you want health care pay for it like everyone else does.
Skinny
Flap Doodle 5 years ago
Somebody didn't pay-to-play.
bluerose 5 years ago
$4 million? intersection of N. 2nd and Locust?
wow...
i must be really out of touch with reality. some reality anyway!
logrithmic 5 years ago
You mean, the $250 million six-laning of highway 59 between the metros of Ottawa (yuk yuk) and Lawrence (yuk yuk) are not enough? The SprawlMart depot wants to thank everyone involved. What's healthcare when highway spending goes so much further!
Oh, and let's not forget the embrace of all the business and govt leaders of the bioweapons plant going in in Manhattan. Even the Journal World couldn't suck up to that one enough. But we still must spend at least $250 million to upgrade the road systems so there aren't any deadly spills of toxins being brought in from KCI and down I70.
So when it comes to being disappointed in the lack of stimulus spending in Doug Cnty, one need only look at all the government leaders, business leaders, and this newspaper for their unending support for biological weapons development!
Thanks!
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