The City of Manhattan plans to close both inside lanes of Highway 24 near the intersection of Levee Drive as work begins on intersection improvements to accommodate its new Joint Maintenance Facility.
City Manager Ron Fehr briefed Pottawatomie County commissioners on the project Monday, saying that work will begin on April 17. Complicating matters is an upcoming Kansas Department of Transportation maintenance project from Excel Road west to Manhattan Town Center.
Fehr says the KDOT project was initially to begin toward the end of May, however he says it may actually start sooner. The city’s intersection improvements, which will include a new signal, are projected to be finished by the end of summer.
Reader boards were installed last week to alert motorists. Commissioner Pat Weixelman asked Fehr how the two projects will interrupt traffic flow through the corridor.
Complicating matters is the ongoing work on the levee, resulting in the recent closure of Hayes Drive through the end of November. Commissioner Dee McKee says that creates more challenges for commuters into Manhattan from the east.
The City of Manhattan recently moved into its new Joint Maintenance Facility, located just south of US 24 and Levee Drive, resulting in the need for the new traffic signal at that intersection.
