Riley County commissioners agreed to modify the speed limit for Skyway Drive in front of the Manhattan Regional Airport Monday morning.
Riley County Public Works Director Leon Hobson informed commissioners that Skyway Drive will return to county ownership since work on K-18 has been completed. The Kansas Department of Transportation has been overseeing the road since.
The speed limit is 40 mph for the road. Commissioners directed Hobson to increase the speed to 50 mph from Scenic Drive to the airport and to 55 mph from the airport to Ogden.
“KDOT had established the speed limits that are currently there,” Hobson said. “The road has not been turned over to the county as of yet, though speaking with KDOT they insinuate that could be happening within the next couple months.”
Hobson said the speed limit has been an issue among citizens in the county.
“I know Commissioner (Ben) Wilson has received concerns and I know the rest of you have as well during the last few years since K-18 has been completed,” he said.
Commissioners and Hobson agreed the speed should be lower through the more commercial section of the road between the airport and Scenic Drive.
In other items, Riley County Agricultural Extension Agent Greg McClure reported harvest is underway for Fall crops.
He said corn yields have been as high as 170 bushels per acre and has a conservative outlook of 70 bushels per acre for soybeans in the region.
