Construction kicked off for the Kansas Avenue road improvement project on the morning of March 1, according to Edwardsville officials.
Currently, road closures are in place for through traffic on Kansas Avenue from the I-435 south bound ramp going west to 98th Street.
Traffic going north and south along 98th Street will remain uninterrupted at this time, according to Edwardsville officials.
Additionally, Kansas Avenue 400 feet west of the 98th Street intersection has also been closed. Detour routes are labeled. This work represents the first phase of construction.
Kansas Avenue has dealt with a number of complications involving drainage, visibility, and width. The road project will address these issues.
The project is primarily funded by grant money awarded by the Mid-America Regional Council through the 2015-2016 Surface Transportation-Highway Bridge Program.
The road improvements will be similar to the work done to Edwardsville Drive in 2012, according to a spokesman. The project will improve approximately one mile of road and three large culverts will be replaced or extended.
The roadway will be curbed and guttered in addition to being widened to 32 feet from curb to curb. The intersection of 98th Street and Kansas Avenue will be reconstructed. Affected driveway approaches will be replaced and new sidewalks will be installed on the south side of the road. Sight distances will also be improved throughout the project.
The total length of the project is expected to last throughout 2016. Copies of the preliminary road design are available at Edwardsville city hall offices upon request. Ongoing updates will be provided on the city’s website (www.edwardsvilleks.org) and Facebook account (www.facebook.com/EdwardsvilleKS).
A preliminary artist’s rendering of the new Village South development near I-70 and the Kansas Speedway in Edwardsville, Kan.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Edwardsville City Council approved the preliminary plan for land located at 323 and 325 N. 110th St., taking the first step toward development along the city’s north end.
The property owner intends to develop two hotels (with a combined 185 rooms) with a restaurant and meeting space, a destination retail store, a fast food location, and convenience store. The overall site has 27.18 acres.
Holiday Inn and La Quinta Inn have committed to the project, officials said. The La Quinta del Sol was selected.
There is also a 10.34 acre section in the southeast corner of the development currently reserved for future development. The project location is west of I-435, at 110th between I-70 and Riverview.
The developer for the project is Lane 4. According to information presented Feb. 22, the meeting space would have 12,000 square feet. The retail store is planned to have 25,240 square feet.
The preliminary plan as presented was a modification of a plan originally presented at the Jan. 20 Planning Commission meeting.
Councilmember Chuck Stites made the motion to approve the modification of the preliminary plan, which was seconded by Councilmember Chuck Adams. The motion passed unanimously.
Because the property is located in the Riverview Overlay District, the development is subject to architectural and site design plan review.
The developers will still need to present final plans to both the Planning Commission and the City Council in order to complete their efforts.
A traffic study will also need to be completed, which will involve representatives from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and the Kansas Department of Transportation. If the projects passes the various levels, construction could start this year, officials believe.
During the council and mayor comment period of the Feb. 22 meeting, several councilmembers expressed excitement that this kind of activity is being generated in Edwardsville.
