Construction on K-18 is firing back up, causing a number of traffic headaches for both commuters and Manhattan City officials for the next couple of years.
City Commissioners discussed options to alleviate the congestion for the duration of the project during Tuesday evening’s work session. Mayor Jim Sherow favored installing a stop light.
“We stand to lose a lot more if a light doesn’t go in there, as opposed to not putting one in there,” Sherow told his fellow commissioners.
The current phases of the K-18 Highway Project aim to construct elevated interchanges near Manhattan Regional Airport and at Scenic Drive and Miller Parkway/Davis Drive. Construction began Monday on these portions of the project, with the Davis Drive connection to K-18 now closed. Sherow pushed for a stop light because of the potential headaches, but Commissioner Wynn Butler was hesitant.
“At those peak periods,” Butler said in response. “A light is going to be a disaster, from what I’ve seen.”
Butler, instead, suggested detouring eastbound motorists around the airport on Eureka Drive to Scenic Drive.
“If you route them around the backside of the airport, it’s a little bit longer, but the road seems to be okay,” he said. “And that would prevent any cross traffic. You would basically have a right into the airport and a right out.”
No action was taken during the work session.
