photo by: Screenshot

The proposed Wakarusa Drive Extension project would extend Wakarusa Drive south from the K-10 Highway and across the Wakarusa River to East 1000 Road.

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday will consider extending the timeline for the Wakarusa Drive extension project by two years as an environmental review may delay the project.

The proposed road will extend Wakarusa Drive south from Kansas Highway 10, across the Wakarusa River to East 1000 Road, and its purpose is to improve access for rural residents. The road would be on federal property managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which earlier this year said an enviornmental assessment would be required to authorize the project.

In response, county commissioners unanimously approved an engineering services contract with HNTB Corporation, which did a similar environmental study for the South Lawrence Trafficway project, in May.

It’s because the county has to complete an environmental assessment on the property that the work “may delay the project beyond the schedule,” according to a memo in the agenda.

The County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the Kansas Department of Transportation in 2024, outlining the county’s obligation to construct the Wakarusa Drive extension. The original timeline said that the project could be bid no later than July 1, 2026, with completion expected by December 31, 2028.

To accommodate any delays, KDOT has drafted a supplemental memorandum of understanding commissioners will be considering on Wednesday. This will change the timeline of the Wakarusa Drive extension project where it must be bid on by Nov. 1, 2028 and completed by the end of 2030. This agenda item is included on the County Commission’s consent agenda, where all items are typically approved in one motion.

At the meeting in May, Chad Voigt, director of Douglas County Public Works, said that pending federal approval, the project is still anticipated to be completed in Nov. 2028, if all goes according to plan.

Voigt had also said that if the road is not constructed, Douglas County will have to pay over $9 million to the Kansas Department of Transportation due to a cost sharing agreement as a part of the work on the west leg of the South Lawrence Trafficway.

The Wakarusa extension project has not been without some controversy, and it continues to face opposition from county residents. Lawrence city commissioners withdrew their support of the Wakarusa project after concerns about the environment and about the road damaging land sacred to the Native American community.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, COMMISSIONERS WILL:

• Hold a work session to hear a progress update on Douglas County’s Familiar Faces Initiative, a multi-agency effort designed to improve care coordination for a small group of people who repeatedly cycle through crisis systems such as emergency rooms, homeless shelters, behavioral health services, EMS responses, and sometimes the criminal justice system.

The session will highlight gaps and barriers that continue to hinder effective care, including limitations in shared technology systems, shortages of crisis respite and medical respite services, limited capacity at key facilities, difficulties securing long-term residential placements, and a lack of flexible funding to address immediate client needs.

• Consider approving the plan for the “Summerfest” Independence Day celebration and drone show on July 4 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. Activities at the event will include food trucks, activities for kids and live music. This year, the City of Lawrence is also proposing a beer garden as a part of the festivities.

• Consider executing a contract with Murphy Tractor & Equipment Company to purchase a John Deere 672 Motor Grader equipped with a Walk N Roll WR90-3 roller compactor in the amount of $403,750 for the Public Works department. The existing John Deere 770G motor grader was purchased in 2012.

• Consider executing a contract with Murphy Tractor & Equipment Company to purchase a John Deere 624 wheel loader in the amount of $270,005. The existing John Deere 624K wheel loader was purchased in 2014.

The County Commission will have a work session beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Douglas County Commission meeting room at 1100 Massachusetts St. The business meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.