Guest column by: Ky Louanghaksaphone, P.E., Project Engineer

The City of Derby is preparing for a large street construction project in 2017. We will reconstruct Madison Avenue from Derby High School to the east city limit near High Park. The goal is to improve driver and pedestrian safety and widen the street to three lanes.

Improvements will include stormwater sewers, curb and gutter, sidewalks and a continuous left turn lane. A five-foot sidewalk will be added on the south side, and the existing ten-foot bike path will remain on the north side. A pedestrian crosswalk will be added west of Valley Stream Drive.

In 2012, 8,600 vehicles per day used this road. By 2036, the projection is 14,600. City, state and federal funding together will provide $2.2 million to complete this project. The Kansas Department of Transportation will request bids in December 2016.

The stormwater sewer improvements will enhance how runoff is handled but are not expected to prevent the occasional flooding of the street when Spring Creek goes out of its banks and floods High Park.

During construction, traffic will be one-way westbound. In specific areas where the street elevation will change significantly, the street will be closed completely for about a month. Access to local residences will be maintained during all phases of the project. The project is expected to take an entire year to complete, depending on weather.

Please let me know what questions you have about this project at 788-6632 extension 255 or kylouanghaksaphone@derbyweb.com.

Published in the Derby Informer on Sept. 7, 2016.