photo by: City of Lawrence

A preliminary diagram shows plans for improvements to the Sixth Street and K-10 interchange project.

City leaders will soon consider making a commitment to provide $1.5 million in local funds toward improvements to the intersection of Sixth Street and Kansas Highway 10.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider making a $1.5 million funding commitment to the Kansas Department of Transportation for the Sixth Street and K-10 interchange project for 2023. The project is in the state’s transportation plan, and city staff is recommending the city make the commitment to potentially help the project move faster toward construction.

A memo from City Engineer David Cronin states that the interchange project is included in the city’s long-range transportation plans and would provide multiple benefits.

“Completion of this project is important to serve future development west of K-10, improve safety of the interchange and replace the temporary span wire signals nearing the end of their service life,” the memo states.

The current total estimated cost of the Sixth Street and K-10 interchange project is $11.5 million, and local contributions will be considered by KDOT when moving projects from the development phase to the construction phase, according to the memo.

The project is one of four projects in Douglas County that are included in the “development pipeline” of the state’s transportation plan, Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE. The other three projects are the interchange of Interstate 70, K-10 and Farmer’s Turnpike, part of the west leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway; the expansion of the west leg of the SLT; and reconstruction of U.S. Highway 56 between U.S. Highway 59 and Baldwin City. KDOT has indicated that the Sixth and K-10 project is under consideration to move forward from the development to the construction phase this summer, and the two SLT west leg projects could move forward as soon as summer 2022.

The Sixth Street and K-10 interchange project includes reconfiguration of the existing diamond interchange to a diverging diamond interchange with new ramps, signals, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. East 900 Road will be relocated to the west and access Sixth Street at a location where a future north-south collector street, John Wesley Drive, can be constructed when development occurs. A temporary road will be constructed to maintain access for the county residents with access off East 900 Road to the north.

Staff recommends submitting a funding commitment of up to $1.5 million toward the project in 2023, as well as a request that KDOT include additional improvements in the project. Those include that the project extends the four-lane arterial street section through the intersection of John Wesley Drive, include turn lanes at the intersection, and that KDOT consider aesthetic improvements such as decorative lighting and signal poles and stamped concrete. If the commission were to approve the funding commitment, the details of city participation would be formalized in a city-state agreement that would go back to the commission for consideration in the future.

The City Commission will convene virtually for its regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday with limited staff in place at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. The city has asked that residents participate in the meeting virtually if they are able to do so. A link to register for the Zoom meeting and directions to submit written public comment are included in the agenda that is available on the city’s website, lawrenceks.org.