photo by: Nick Krug

Motorists along East 1200 Road approach a stop sign at an intersection that connects East 1200 Road and the South Lawrence Trafficway just south of the Kasold curve on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

Douglas County and Lawrence city commissioners will receive a joint update Wednesday from Kansas Department of Transportation officials on the department’s planning for the Kasold Drive intersection on Kansas Highway 10.

The update will be presented at a work session that will open the County Commission’s 4 p.m. Wednesday meeting at the Douglas County Courthouse.

KDOT sent a letter in March informing stakeholders of its intention of closing the intersection, which is about 1 mile west of U.S. Highway 59, in advance of the October opening of the South Lawrence Trafficway. KDOT officials have expressed concern that increased traffic with the SLT opening will create safety issues at the at-grade intersection.

KDOT’s proposal drew opposition from those living in southwest Lawrence and Douglas County and local government officials. The Douglas County and Lawrence City commissions joined the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Wakarusa Township and Wakarusa Township Fire Department in sending letters to KDOT in March supporting keeping the intersection open.

At a public meeting last month at Kansas University’s Lied Center, KDOT State Transportation Engineer Jerry Younger told a crowd of about 75 people the department was trying “awfully hard” to develop alternatives to closing the intersection that balance interests.

At Wednesday’s work session, KDOT officials will present a project planning overview and a summary of public concerns shared with the department, said Keith Browning, Douglas County Public Works director.

It will be the first of several meetings in the coming weeks with the public and county and city officials before KDOT reveals its final decision on Kasold Drive, Browning said. That process would end with KDOT presenting a summary of its chosen alternative to the City Commission on June 21 and County Commission on June 22. Those presentations will come with requests both bodies vote to support the chosen alternative, he said.

Other dates in the planning timeline are:

• A May 31 presentation of a technical planning summary on intersection proposals to city and county staff.

• A June 1 public open house on intersection proposals. Browning said KDOT had not released a time or place for the meeting.

• The June 7 presentation of a final report and recommendations to the Douglas County and Lawrence City commissions and city and county staffs.

The Douglas County Commission meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. For a complete agenda, visit douglascountyks.org.