The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, announces initiation of construction for two major construction projects near Tuttle Creek Dam, according to a press release.
These projects include replacement of the bridge deck over the dam’s spillway structure at the east of Tuttle Creek Dam in Pottawatomie County and rehabilitation of the stilling basin (locally known as “the tubes”) located below the dam in Riley County.
Spillway Bridge Deck Replacement Project:
The contractor for this project, Wildcat Concrete Services, mobilized to the job site the week of Feb. 12 and began work immediately on the bridge. Highway K-13 between its intersections with Riverpond Road and Dyer Road/Spillway Marina Road will be closed beginning Feb. 21 for an estimated 8 to 10 months. This project will eliminate right turns for traffic exiting the east Riverpond State Park entrance onto Highway K-13. Detour plans have been developed for K-13 with Kansas Department of Transportation and will route motorists to Highways K-16, U.S. 77 and U.S. 24. All parking lots at each end of the dam as well as the gravel road on the upstream side of the dam will be closed to public use during the project.
Stilling Basin Rehabilitation Project:
The contractor for this project, BCI USA Inc., is mobilizing to the job site the week of March 19 and is expected to begin work immediately and is estimated to last 18 to 24 months. This work will result in closure of a portion of Riverpond Road, the stilling basin parking and fishing area, the east half of Outlet Park (Blue River Nature Trail and shelters #3 and #4) and the west entrance into Riverpond State Park. Access to the Riverpond State Park will remain available via K-13 across Tuttle Creek Dam. During overlap of this project with the spillway bridge deck replacement, Riverpond State Park access will only be available to eastbound traffic across the dam on K-13.
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These projects will not affect the normal operation or integrity of the dam. No lake level variation from the routine annual water level management plans are expected. Plans are in place to regulate outflows and for the removal of construction personnel and equipment in the event of a high-water event requiring increased releases from the outlet or spillway. The river pond below Tuttle Creek Dam will be lowered for a period of time during the Stilling Basin Rehabilitation Project to facilitate a portion of that work.
The Tuttle Creek Lake website will provide updated construction schedules as they become available at: http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Tuttle-Creek-Lake/.
