Ark Valley News - City preps for 85th St. upgrade

City preps for 85th St. upgrade
Last Updated: December 28, 2017

Construction is coming to a major road near you in 2018.

Valley Center is preparing to reconstruct and expand Fifth Street (85th) from the bridge over the Little Ditch to just past the intersection with the High Point and Fiddlers Creek neighborhoods. The project will include widening the section to include a middle turn lane and installing curb and gutters in some areas.

It also will include a six-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side of the street, from the bridge to Fiddlers Creek.

Josh Golka, with the city's engineering firm PEC, said the street will be similar to Ford (77th), which was redone several years ago.

Golka said 80 percent of the $2.5 million project will come from federal funds.

The project also will include “shaving" down hills to improve sight distances around the entrances to High Point and Fiddlers Creek.

Crews have been in the area for the past few weeks relocating utility lines.. That work should continue for the next “few months," Golka said.

In February, the Kansas Department of Transportation will solicit bids and work could start in mid-March, Golka said.

The project does not include improvements to the street between Broadway and just east of the High Point intersection. Golka said the city is seeking additional funding during the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2020-25 cycle for that phase of the project.