By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The start of the school year is bringing a new look to a busy intersection
near the Great Bend Middle School. Along with the reconstruction of the 19th
Street and Harrison Street intersection to improve safety, the intersection
will soon become a four-way stop.
Through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, facilitated by the Kansas
Department of Commerce, Great Bend was provided a 50% reimbursement for a $1.1 million
project that resurfaced a portion of Broadway Avenue and reconstructed the 19th
and Harrison intersection.
Plans were in place for more than a year, but most of the Great Bend City
Council members found out for the first time Monday night that the intersection
would turn into a four-way stop.
City Administrator Kendal Francis said the current setup has stop signs for east and
westbound traffic on 19th Street, but will add stop signs for north
and southbound traffic on Harrison Street this week.
"We're confident we can get the word out," said Francis. "We've talked about the possibility of maybe even putting flashing lights on the signs to get people's attention, at least in the near term."
Through bump-out sidewalks, the reconstruction shortened the distance children
have to walk through the street in the crosswalk.
With school starting Thursday, Francis added the four-way stop will slow down
motorists driving down Harrison.
"Once we start getting the school traffic through there, people will start adjusting to it," added Francis. "I think it's very-much needed."